Gardaí to draw up plans to oppose reserve

The executive of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) will meet later this month to plan its next moves in opposition to the new Garda Reserve force.

The first recruits for the new part-time force started training at the weekend.

The protest could entail disruption that would not bring gardaí "into conflict with their sworn roles", a senior GRA figure told The Irish Times yesterday.

He said the association was "not at all concerned" by the assertion by the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, that there were "quick and effective remedies" for anyone who challenged the authority of the Government or the Garda.

Mr McDowell was reacting to comments by GRA general secretary PJ Stone that the new reserve force would be "despised and hated" in the same way, An Taca Síochána, a Garda support body established under emergency powers in 1939, was.

Mr Stone, who is out of the country, said at the weekend the GRA's opposition to the reserve force was "not over by any stretch of the imagination".

He said he was disappointed people had applied to join the Garda Reserve given the strong opposition to it among rank-and-file gardaí.

He was speaking as the first group of 40 successful applicants began training at Templemore, Co Tipperary on Saturday.

They are the first of the 400 successful candidates and are due to graduate on December 16th. They will be subject to a probationary period of two years.

Speaking at Templemore on Saturday, Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy described Mr Stone's comments as "unhelpful and unacceptable". Mr McDowell spoke to the commissioner over the weekend and has asked for a report on Mr Stone's comments.

"I am satisfied that, under the recent Garda Act which provided for the establishment of the reserve, there are quick and effective remedies in relation to anyone who would publicly threaten from within the cohesion and effectiveness of the Garda or challenge the authority of the Garda Commissioner in the way reported," Mr McDowell said.

The senior GRA source said anyone attempting to discipline Mr Stone for his weekend comments "would be on shaky ground".

"The executive of the GRA will be meeting in mid-October to plan opposition, what line we are going to take, going forward. Recruits into this reserve force won't be welcome."

Asked what form the opposition might take, he said it would be along "legal and non-operational" lines. He said this could entail members causing disruption that "would not bring them into conflict with their sworn roles".

"What's at stake here is a fundamental opposition on ideological grounds. We feel it's a threat to the welfare of society.

"And secondly we want the force we have to be fixed before we start adding this reserve.

"We want a decent fleet of cars, decent standard of accommodation, stab-proof vests, bullet-proof vets.

"We are not at all concerned about the comments made by the commissioner or the Minister. We are glad to have the issues brought back to the fore again."

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors is also opposed to the new reserve force.