The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors has criticised changes in the law to give more powers to the Garda Ombudsman.
The Association says that the Garda Bill of 2014, which is currently before the Oireachtas, allows for vexatious complaints and for complainants to have a veto over the outcome of investigations.
A special motion is to be introduced at the Association's annual conference in Co Meath tomorrow, calling for the suspension of directions from the Commissioner in relation to how gardaí are supervised.
Inadequate supervision of junior and experienced gardaí has been outlined as one of the major problems in the force, and new regulations were introduced to ensure that such gardaí were supervised by a sergeant.
However, their representative association says a new directive is causing serious problems in that many sergeants do not know who they are assigned to supervise and what sort of crime is involved
A special motion to call on management to suspend these instructions will be introduced at the AGSI conference tomorrow.
Earlier, the AGSI criticised Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan for failing to meet them on a number of occasions.
Vice-president, Antoinette Cunningham said they sought meetings with the Commissioner on four occasions, to discuss roster and sickness issues, but have still not been able to meet her or her senior managers on these.
Ms Cunningham also said that the Commissioner promised constructive engagement, but they have seen no engagement on these matters, and she said that was simply not good enough.
The AGSI also called for the restoration of pay following cuts imposed on its members over the past seven years.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, AGSI General Secretary John Redmond said members had suffered greatly as a result of the cuts to their salaries as well as a pension levy.
He said they want to see the Government make a serious gesture towards restoring the 14% of cuts.
Mr Redmond also questioned extended powers for the Garda Reserve, such as the power to issue penalty points and serve summonses to motorists and the power to seize vehicles.
The AGSI says it is remiss of the Government and garda management to put people in a position where they will be carrying out policing functions without proper policing training.
Mr Redmond said it was unfair to expect this of people and described it as policing on the cheap.
The AGSI is also seeking increased training for officers who carry firearms and a special driver’s permit so that penalty points incurred in the line of duty will not appear on a garda's personal driving licence.
Thirty motions on issues including pay, training, policing and equipment as well as concerns about the strength and oversight of the force are on the agenda.
Sergeants and inspectors also say all gardaí authorised to carry a gun should undergo mandatory training to the highest level, not just basic training as is currently the case, and that there should be sufficient armed gardaí available all over the country.
They also want steps to be taken not only to stop the strength of the force falling below 13,000, but to bring it up to 14,000.
