Public Service Industrial Action 2026 – FAQ
Since the expiry of the Public Service Agreement 2024–2026 on 30th June 2026 the Prison Officers Association and other Public Service Unions are left in an increasingly uncertain position. Almost three months on, no successor agreement has been negotiated and, more significantly, formal negotiations have yet to commence. What began as a disagreement over the basis for a new agreement has now developed into a wider public-service industrial relations dispute.
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About the POA
The Prison Officers’ Association represents Prison Officers in the 26 Counties of the Republic of Ireland. The Association represents grades from Prison Officer up to and including Deputy Governor. The Association has a Branch structure in each prison/place of detention. It also has a National structure with a National Executive Council and an Administrative Council. The Association’s headquarters are at 18, Merrion Square, Dublin 2.
National Structure
At National Level the Administrative Council is made up of 8 National Officers. The Administrative Council is responsible for the day to day running of the Prison Officers’ Association.
Meet the Team
Karl Dalton
General Secretary
Gabriel Keaveny
Deputy General Secretary
Terry Goodson
Assistant General Secretary
Mark Morrison
Assistant General Secretary
Dermot Kelly
Information Officer
Keith Ryan
General Treasurer
Peter Redmond
Vice President
Paul Furey
President
History of the Prison Officers' Association
- 1916 Prison Officers Federation
- 1920 Prison Officers Representative Board established (to improve conditions in Irish Prisons)
- 1929 Last publication in magazine from Free State.
- 1931 Re establishment of Prison Officers Representive Body – suppression of body.
- 1945/46 Attempts to establish representative body – unsuccessful.
- 1947 Successful establishment of Prison Officers ‘Association.
- 1948 Recognition of Prison Officers’ Association (Dail Question), Affiliation to Civil Service Alliance.
- 1953 Introduction of Conciliation & Arbitration Scheme.
- 1959 Chief Officers join Organisation.
- 1972 Post of Vice-President created – Executive Committee formed.
- 1973 Full-time General Secretary appointed. Post of Assistant General Secretary established. Office provided in St. Patrick’s Institution for the Association.
- 1974 Industrial Action by Portlaoise and St. Patrick’s Staff (first ever).
- 1975/76 Stewards (Assistant Governors) and Deputy Governors join the Association.
- 1978 Post of Public Relations Officer created (filled in 1979) Purchase of Headquarters.
- 1980 Post of Deputy General Secretary created (filled in 1981) Fulltime Staff employed Affiliation to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Development of Headquarters,
- 1981 Establishment of the Association of Retired Prison Officers, Establishment of the Prison Officers Credit Union Ltd., Establishment of the Prison Officers Medical Aid Society.
- 1982 Affiliation to EUROFEDOP (European Federation of Employees in Public Service).
- 1983 Granted Trade Union rights, Major dispute in Mountjoy Prison.
- 1988 Full Strike Action in the Prison Service, Granted full negotiating license.
- 1995 Purchase of new Headquarters in Merrion Square.
- 1997 50th Anniversary of the founding of the POA.
- 2005 The Proposal for Organisational Change was accepted with the introduction of an additional hours system to replace overtime.
- 2007 Motion to Annual Delegate Conference for review of POA nationally and locally.
- 2009 Consultants report recommends two additional full time Officers.
- 2010 Appointment of two full time Assistant General Secretaries.
- 2022 75th Anniversary of the founding of the POA.