THE GARDA is to recommend to Government that the system of providing Cabinet Ministers with State cars driven by gardaí be maintained in light of the paint attack against Minister for Health Mary Harney.
Senior gardaí are also not in favour of a ministerial car pooling system suggested by Minister for the Environment John Gormley.
They believe no steps should be taken that would weaken the security afforded by the armed gardaí that drive the ministerial fleet, particularly at a time of growing public anger over the recession.
The gardaí who drive Ministers’ cars are armed detectives who double as Ministers’ bodyguards.
The issue was discussed yesterday at a meeting of chief superintendents at the Garda College in Templemore, Co Tipperary. The meeting is held every six months so senior officers can discuss Garda strategy.
Senior officers believe the current ministerial fleet arrangements should be maintained in the interests of protecting ministers from robust protest, or attack, particularly after the budget.
Chief superintendents cited the attack on Ms Harney as well as recent incidents in which ministers were greeted by robust protest, including outside the Dáil.
While Ms Harney had paint thrown over her by a councillor who was an invited guest at an event on Monday, gardaí believe the attack is indicative of public anger at the Government.
“We think the level of anger is only going to get worse and we don’t think now is the time to be doing away with the State cars and Garda drivers,” said one source.
The Irish Timesunderstands Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy will convey his opinion, and the opinions of his senior officers, on the matter to Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern.
Much of the recent public debate on the ministerial fleet has focused on its €11 million cost over the past two years at a time of huge strain on public finances.
The senior gardaí meeting in Templemore yesterday also want former taoisigh to retain their cars and Garda drivers to maximise security around them.
Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern has been the focus of much public anger for his role in the years leading up to the recession.
Meanwhile, Ms Harney yesterday gave a statement to gardaí about Monday’s incident. A Garda file was sent to the DPP last night.
Ms Harney was launching a health facility in Ballyfermot, west Dublin, when she was hit with red paint thrown by Louise Minihan, who was elected to the city council as a member of Sinn Féin.
Ms Minihan, now a member of the socialist republican party Éirígí, was arrested after the incident but later released. She said she acted out of protest at the way the health service was being run.
