The Irish Council of Civil Liberties (ICCL) has backed moves to remove the Irish language as a barrier to entry to the Garda Siochána.
Announcing a plan on Thursday to boost Garda numbers by 2,000, the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell said the entrance criteria, including the age limit and the Irish-language requirement, would be examined.
The move is to help expand the pool of potential recruits, aiming particularly at members of ethnic minorities.
ICCL Director, Ms Aisling Reidy said today: "Ensuring a modern, effective police service for Ireland, which reflects the diverse make up of Irish society, is an important objective, and one that we believe removing a ban on membership of the Gardai unless you have Irish will help to achieve.
"While the ability to speak Irish should be treated as an asset and positive factor for any member of the Garda, it does not follow that the Garda serve the public better by excluding those who do not speak Irish.
"The removal of the Irish-language requirement of course has particular relevance for recruits from ethnic minorities, but could also improve recruitment from other sections of Irish society where Irish is not a skill individuals have," she added.