"parking outside Garda stations makes us look like a banana repubic"


I'm just talking from definite first hand experience and I have never encountered a problem nor had any friends in other agencies, in fact this is the first time that I have even been aware that there is a problem. I would tend to add a pinch of salt when people are talking about guards because there is always a little bit of niggle when people are dealing with authorities and sometimes this leads to petty rumours.
 

But the Agency concerned has had direct experience of this. I'm not saying it happens everywhere but it obviously has happened to them. Why would they turn away business for no good reason?
 
Young, male and gard is a bad combination from my own and that of fellow landlord's experiences.

Young, male and gard is a Good combination from my own and that of fellow landlord's experiences. Steady wage so late payment was never an issue. They work long irregular hours so don't throw three day weekend parties.

How is your statement more valid than mine? Public sector bashing is a no go area but as soon as there's a chance to have a pop at AGS a couple of pages worth of local gossip appear.

If i mentioned all the stupid dealings and time wasting I've had across the public sector, I'd be quickly shot down and told that only a few people in there are giving the whoe public sector a bad name and I'd be challenged to name the department/personell and make letters of complaint. The same can be done when dealing with members of AGS if you want. They even wear ID numbers on both shoulders.
 

No...it's even happens in Cork

TBH, I think there are worse things that we as a people do which make us look like a banana republic. My current favourite is the amount of cars and vans who break the lights. It used to be the case that a small minority would go through on amber. Now it's wholesale and to make it worse, there is at least 1 or 2 cars going through on the red now too. This makes us appear for what we are...a nation of me feiners. I braked at the lights yesterday as they went amber and the guy behind me blew the horn as if I should have sped up and went through (so that he could have went through either an amber or red). Parking on yellow boxes is the other one for me. Again, something that tells tourists that we're a bunch of me feiners.
 
Again, something that tells tourists that we're a bunch of me feiners.

Except that it also happens in other countries as well. The UK has found it necessary to put CCTV and large warning signs at traffic light junctions to deter red light breakers.
 

We have made the point, on several occasions, that it is only a minority of Guards who behave like this and who are bringing down the image of all Guards. I have several family members who are/were members of the Garda Siochana and am well aware that there are plenty of dedicated, law abiding Guards who don't abuse their position. We are perfectly entitled, however, to discuss the fact that 'some' Guards do abuse their position, often quite blatantly as in the case of parking illegally in full view of members of the public.

Oh and by the way, Guards are public sector employees.
 
Oh and by the way, Guards are public sector employees.

That was part of the point I made. Public sector criticism or "Bashing" as it has been phrased (because heaven forbid they be criticised for a poor job) isn't permitted but yet a bit of gossip on the AGS and its open season and a bit of gossip is to be treated as truth. Same could be said of any profession/occupation.

On the original topic; Are the cars personal cars or Unmarked cars?
 

But where is the line between hearing something from a reliable source and 'gossip'.
 
But where is the line between hearing something from a reliable source and 'gossip'.

Common Sense would dictate.


This statement is gossip. It's not a reliable source. Its akin to "Well my mammy told me..."
 
Common Sense would dictate.



This statement is gossip. It's not a reliable source. Its akin to "Well my mammy told me..."

Well, my 'common sense' would tell me that if an agency refuse to deal with Guards when letting property, then they must have good reason to do so and the reason is the one they state to their clients. I am not quoting something that someone down the pub told me that they heard from their next door neighbour.
There was another thread recently where someone also refused to believe something because although it came from a very close source the post was at 'one remove' so then it wasn't true and shouldn't be stated.
That kind of logic would basically kill all debate.
 

But others like me think that the image of all guards is not affected whatsover by a letting agency blacklist in some corner of Ireland.
 
The agency is free not to let to whomever they choose. Just because a person is a Garda they think they have some sense of entitlement. Those days are long gone buster.
 
The agency is free not to let to whomever they choose.
Definitely. I am not disputing that.

Just because a person is a Garda they think they have some sense of entitlement.
Entitlement to what? This is my gripe with this thread. I could insert any number of occupations but it's ok to generalise and have a pop at AGS

that the image of all guards is not affected whatsoever by a letting agency blacklist in some corner of Ireland.
I agree.

I am not quoting something that someone down the pub told me that they heard from their next door neighbour.
The statement you made was third hand at least and the so called unofficial black list "apparently" includes Gardai. It’s coincidental and nothing more than a member of the AGS is on the list.

There was another thread recently where someone also refused to believe something because although it came from a very close source the post was at 'one remove' so then it wasn't true and shouldn't be stated.
That kind of logic would basically kill all debate.

It is inconvenient when asked to clarify statements with reliable back up I know. If not I could launch in to a tirade about various people in different occupations or ethnic groups.
That’s why I read through AAM rather than politics.ie to be honest; otherwise it becomes a gossip column.

Back on topic: RE; The parking problem; I would see it as an extension of our failings during the boom years to properly setup infrastructure and proper facilities. The AGS itself needed a full overhaul while the funding was possible now it has to rely on knee-jerk reactions like closing rural stations rather than having implemented properly allocated regional command centres. How many Garda Stations throughout the country are still operating out of converted houses that the Tans had occupied. The force has grown but the facilities are failing them.

I know of one Garda station that operated in a town of circa. 20K people, it was only open at certain hours and the barber’s next door was twice the size. There was barely room outside for more than one squad car at a time, in reality they couldn’t park the car down the street.
 

Janey, I've told you something that actually happens. Do you want me to give you the name of the agency or something???

Anyway, back on topic, there is something deeply hypocritical about some guards pulling people over for breaking the law, while openly flouting it themselves.