The Garda Síochána is facing very serious financial problems at the end of the year, a high-ranking officer said today.
Addressing delegates on the final day of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) conference in Galway, General Secretary Mr George Maybury warned of the consequences of the reduction in the Garda budget by 3 per cent in real terms this year, coupled with a 25 per cent cut in the force's overtime budget and the costs incurred in policing high-profile incidents.
"One can envisage very serious financial problems towards the end of the year given that huge chunks of the budget have already been utilised at Shannon, in Limerick city and in policing the demonstrations connected with the war in Iraq.
"The problems will be exacerbated in that resources will have to be utilised this year to make preparations for the EU Presidency in January 2004," he said.
"There is an ever-increasing pressure to achieve more against a background of seriously decreasing resources and this will be the case for many years to come," he said.
In preparation for the "significant policing challenge" of next year's EU presidency, Mr Maybury said the disturbances that took place in June 2001 at a European Council meeting in Gothenburg should provide "much food for thought" for the Government and Garda management.
"The Swedish police were not allocated any extra funds for operations at the Swedish meetings - it is vital that the Government gives consideration to this issue in good time," he warned.
The General Secretary also echoed the comments of AGSI President Mr Joe Dirwan, who yesterday branded the Association's pay increases under benchmarking - an award of 6 per cent as opposed to the 16 per cent offered senior Gardai - as "measly".
The outcome of the benchmarking process must force a review of how the AGSI bargains in future, Mr Maybury said. "We well have to adopt a radically different approach to how we do business at present within the force and the Association, in order to set ourselves properly for any new review.
"If we do not, the chances are we will struggle in future benchmarking," he cautioned.
The General Secretary also spoke in broad terms of social and economic environments in which the Gardai Síochána now found itself operating, one in which there is "a major decline in respect for authority in all shapes."
He echoed Minister for Justice Mr McDowell's commitment last night to introducing "severe, even Draconian, measures" to combat drink-induced crime.
Garda Commissioner Mr Pat Byrne is to address the conference this afternoon.