GARDA representatives last night gave a broad welcome to the Government's crime package but said it still did not go far enough to tackle the crime problem.
The Bar Council described the package as a very "comprehensive overview" and welcomed the broad principle of the proposals. The Law Society, which represents solicitors, also welcomed the main thrust of the proposals.
The general secretary of the Garda Representatives Association, Mr John Ferry, said the package was "too little too late".
While the organisation welcomed the recruitment of extra Gardai, the numbers were still not sufficient to tackle the growing crime problem, he said.
At least 1,200 new recruits in addition to the normal annual intake of gardai are required to bring the force up to the required strength to police this country with any degree of success," Mr Ferry said.
The national secretary of the Garda Federation, which represents 2,500 gardai, said he hoped the measures would be implemented without delay. Mr Chris Finnegan hoped the review of Garda efficiency and cost effectiveness would also examine the industrial dispute in the force.
Mr Joe Curran, assistant general secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, said the package still left the force short at least 300 gardai and he called for the retirement age to be extended so that experienced gardai "are not thrown on the scrap heap at the age of 57".
Mr Curran welcomed the recruitment of 200 extra civilians but said that would only make up for the fall in numbers since the Civil Service embargo on recruitment was introduced.
The Bar Council chairman, Mr James Nugent SC, said it was "quite clear" that the package was in preparation by the Department of Justice for some time.
He also welcomed the fact that the constitutional referendum on bail laws would not be until November. This is not a matter for government but for the people and we will have time to took carefully at the proposals," he said.
Mr Ken Murphy, director general of the Law Society, said that solicitors wanted to see criminals being caught, given early trials and appropriate sentences, all of which they will serve". He said the proposals on bail and the right to silence will be examined closely, "to ensure the retention as much as possible of the long established freedoms which these represent".