The Garda Representative Association is to ballot members on whether they have confidence in Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.
The association represents almost 12,000 rank and file gardaí.
The decision to hold a vote of no confidence in the commissioner was made at a meeting of the GRA's central executive committee this afternoon.
The ballot is to take place within six weeks and the result will be discussed at a special delegate conference to take place before 6 November.
The GRA said that, under the leadership of Commissioner Harris, there have been 71 resignations this year and there is a crisis in morale, recruitment and retention.
With 116 gardaí on suspension, the GRA is also unhappy with discipline and said too much bureaucracy is turning investigators into administrators.
The association's interim General Secretary Ronan Slevin said these prolonged issues have been identified with the commissioner.
However, Mr Slevin said that Mr Harris has failed to address the issues and the GRA was left with no option but to ballot members.
The association insisted that it is not inciting industrial action or a withdrawal of labour and, therefore, is not in breach of the Garda Síochána Act.
There has been no comment from Garda Headquarters on the GRA announcement.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said she has full confidence in the commissioner.
