Minister for Justice Michael McDowell today published a new code of discipline for An Garda Siochana that is aimed at streamlining the system and removing delays.
Mr McDowell announced the draft reforms as the latest three reports from the Morris tribunal were published.
The reports pointed to the current disciplinary process in the Garda, noting its legal formalism was used to delay and frustrate simple inquiries.
Minister McDowell said the current code of discipline has so many procedures that it turns into a complex investigation, almost like a murder trial.
But the Garda Representative Association (GRA) labelled the plan opportunistic and claimed there was a lack of consultation with unions.
GRA general secretary PJ Stone said the Minister was ignoring the fundamental leadership and resource deficits in the force.
"Their publication today is inappropriate and makes a mockery of the Garda consultation and conciliation process between the department, management and the staff associations," he said.
"We believe, like the handling of the Garda Reserve issue, the Minister has no interest in bringing his workforce on board with his plans."
He also said Mr McDowell was ignoring the role rank-and-file officers were playing in the working groups set up to address the disciplinary issues raised by the two previous Morris reports.