Call are made for a dedicated transport police service across Ireland
Transport and travel trade union TSSA has called for a dedicated transport police service across Ireland, citing a 'sharp increase’ in anti-social behaviour on the railways.
The issues occur right across the country. Tipperary is well served with train stations with passengers all year round using routes to and from the county including major stations in Thurles, Templemore and Limerick Junction which serve the main artery between the southern cities and Dublin.
On the second day of its annual delegate conference in Cork, TSSA delegates also backed a call for a trade union-wide report into the future of Ireland’s railways both North and South.
The motion on transport policing, proposed by the union’s Irish Committee, highlighted how in the North a small team of Police Service for Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers are policing stations and trains.
It also noted the rise in drug-related offences on Translink services, plus assaults on staff and ‘a dramatic increase in antisocial behaviour’. Conference heard that in the Republic still higher incidents of abuse are being recorded.
However, in the Republic there is no relationship between An Garda Siochana and Iarnród Éireann. The move by the union comes after anti-social issues halted some services on Dublin Bus in recent months.
On wider transport policy Conference called for a ‘trade union report on Ireland's railways North and South’. This echoes similar work done in Scotland which produced the 2021 report ‘A Vision for Scotland’s Railways’ and comes as the All-Ireland Strategic Rail Review - examining how to improve links between regions and cities across Ireland - is expected to be published in the coming months.
Commenting, TSSA Executive Committee member for Ireland, Paul Corcoran, said: “It’s great to see our conference passing these vital motions because it’s long past time we had a joined-up system of policing across our rail and wider transport network.
“That this currently does not exist in any meaningful way is an injustice both to passengers and our communities. It must be remedied.
“The rise in anti-social behaviour is a concern to us all, but most certainly to our members who are often in the front line carrying out their duties, making our railways run safely each day.
"It’s also our intention now to work with colleagues in sibling unions to make sure our collective voices are heard in shaping the Irish rail network of the future. In doing so we will be happy to work with local and national governments across this island.”