McDowell decision - Move to boost force long overdue

THE move by Justice Minister Michael McDowell to allow people up to 35 to join the gardaí is a long overdue step towards honouring a political pledge that has been gathering dust since the 2002 general election.

Whether it succeeds in increasing the strength of the force by 2,000 to the promised level of 14,000 extra members in the Coalition’s lifetime remains to be seen.

But at least it will enable people of greater maturity, and with fresh talent, deeper experience and wider qualifications to become members of a force that seems mainly to consist of fresh-faced young men and women not long out of their teens.

Hopefully, the minister will go further and abolish the requirement that applicants have a working knowledge of Irish. As Ireland becomes increasingly multi-racial, this stipulation is an obstacle to newly established citizens who might wish to join the gardaí.