Top gardai have said new directives could see officers disciplined for being “misguided” on transgender issues.
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors today said it is calling for the formal withdrawal of the Gender Identity in the Workplace plan.
The newly imposed directive was sanctioned by the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.
AGSI General Secretary Antoinette Cunningham said members are concerned they could face discipline for being misguided on the issue. And she said management should first educate members on the topic before putting policy in place.
Ms Cunninham said: “AGSI have also raised serious concerns with the internal consultation process.
“And will be seeking the formal withdrawal of the recent Directive on Gender Identity in the Workplace, owing to the lack of consultation and awareness and especially in light of the recent comments by the Garda Commissioner that the misgendering of a person could lead to discipline.
“AGSI are acutely aware of the rights of people to transition and be supported in doing so by workplace colleagues.
“In the absence of an awareness and education programme for AGSI members on how to properly support colleagues who wish to transition, it is unfair of the Garda Commissioner to issue this directive in its current form.”
It comes after Mr Harris was recently asked by a media outlet if officers could be disciplined if they refuse to use a person’s preferred pronouns or misgender someone. He said: “Well there’d be a management response and that could escalate as far as discipline but there would always be a management response in the first place.
“It’s wrong just to categorise this as straight as discipline issues. It’s a management issue and a performance issue in the first place.”
The topic is one of many expected to be raised at the annual conference of AGSI in Salthill , Galway this week.
The three-day event will also address the row over rosters.
The Garda Commissioner is expected to attend the conference this afternoon.
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