Garda representative bodies must accept the development of a reserve force, Minister of Justice Michael McDowell said today after revealing comprehensive proposals drawn up by the Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy.
Mr McDowell's comments put him on a collision course with the two main Garda representative organisations, who have joined forces to oppose his plan.
Minister for Justice Michael McDowell
The Association of Garda Sergeants of Ireland (AGSI) and the Garda Representative Association (GRA) have both indicated their opposition to the proposal by Mr McDowell in the past. And tonight they began a State-wide series of meetings where they will urge members not to co-operate with the force.
They are calling for the scrapping of the reserve, which due to come into effect in September, saying it is an insult to their profession and could create a series of policing and justice concerns.
At a protest meeting in Sligo tonight, the GRA and AGSI repeated their opposition to the plans. "I find it hard to control my anger when I think about what the minister is proposing," said AGSI president Joe Dirwan. "It is a direct attack on the force which has been in the front line of defending this state since its inception in 1922."
Mr Conroy's plans provide for reservists to only be permitted to carry out duties outside their own neighbourhoods. Reservists will not be allowed carry weapons or drive official vehicles and be subject to "full disciplinary codes". But controversially, reservists will have access to the Garda PULSE database - a proposal which causes deep concern among representative groups.
Mr McDowell said today that Commissioner Conroy's plan was "a thoroughly-trained reserve with carefully selected powers and duties". He promised to consult with the garda representatives but warned they would be acting outside the law if they failed to co-operate.
"The principle has been democratically approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas and must be respected," Mr McDowell said. "The Oireachtas is our constitutional legislature. There is no question of any group in society being able to say that it doesn't abide by the law of the land or that they will frustrate the implementation of the law of the land."
He also addressed some of the concerns expressed by garda representatives in recent months but upbraided them for making incorrect claims. "The debate has been carried out on a somewhat misleading basis, in that various rumours have been put out about what would have been finally proposed," the minister said.
He contradicted the claim by the GRA and AGSI that reservists would only receive 24 hours training. He said they would be trained to the best international standard and receive initial training of 120 hours. He also addressed concerns about vetting and qualifications saying that reservists would be required to meet the same standards as full-time gardai.
Mr McDowell said one of the benefits of a reserve was that it could "deepen [the Garda's] roots within the community" through local knowledge and community connections.
The AGSI has dismissed the proposal as a "Mad Hatter scheme" and have argued that some reservists could try to "settle old scores" in their community under the perceived protection of their position.
Mr Dirwan told officers at the Sligo Park Hotel that Mr McDowell's aim was to undermine their profession and to create a second rate police force. "His Garda Reserve proposal is designed to show that our job can be done by an unpaid volunteer with minimal training who does not have to live under any of the restrictive covenants that we do."
The GRA said the reserve would lead to a dumbing-down of policing and a de-professionalising of the force. "We regard the idea that a voluntary person, who will not have a fraction of our training or expertise, will yet have full police powers as a gross insult to the dedicated members of An Garda Síochána who have a difficult, dangerous and frequently dirty job to do," said general secretary PJ Stone.
The Labour Party's justice spokesman accused Mr McDowell of handling the issue badly and called on him to meet Garda representative bodies.
"The Minister has handled this very badly. He guillotined debate on the Act and seems fully intent on bulldozing ahead with 900 Garda volunteers by September," Mr Costello said. "There's nothing wrong with the Garda Reserve in principle, but it should be introduced on a pilot basis in a small number of areas around the country so any problems can be ironed out."
Additional reporting: PA