McDowell: reserve will work despite opposition
The minister issued the broadside after a meeting with a second garda representative body ended in deadlock yesterday.
The meeting with the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) followed discussions with the Garda Representative Association (GRA) on Wednesday.
Both associations repeated their opposition to the voluntary reserve and vowed to continue their joint policy of non-cooperation.
Mr McDowell said the reserve would work despite their opposition and said almost all political parties and the public were behind him.
“It can work (without their support), because I believe that every member of the force, every rank in the force understands they don’t dine a la carte in relation to the law.”
He said he was “emphatically” of the view the success of the reserve would enhance the professionalism and standing of the gardaí in the eyes of the community.
But he said: “The converse of this is, if the public got the idea the volunteer reserve is being damaged by a policy of non-cooperation, it wouldn’t be the volunteers or the Government that would be seen to be responsible in the eyes of the public.
“It would be the people who were carrying out a campaign aimed at that result. It would end up on their doorstep, and it wouldn’t be good for any of us.”
He said there was “massive support” from all the political parties, except Sinn Féin, as well as the public.
A Department of Justice-commissioned survey published this week indicated that 70% of people supported a garda reserve.
Speaking after yesterday’s meeting, AGSI general secretary Joe Dirwan said there had been no progress.
“The policy of non-cooperation hasn’t changed and the policy will be continuing,” he said.
He said they had repeated to the minister their objection in principle to the reserve.
“We see no reason for it, but we see the need to fully resource the force and bring An Garda Síochána to a proper acceptable strength.”
He said they questioned the minister about whether he or, as the minister claimed, the Garda Commissioner, originated the proposed numbers for the reserve - a final strength of 4,000, with 900 initial recruits by September.
“The commissioner assured the association he was working from a Government decision, but the minister keeps insisting the proposals are from the commissioner.”
Mr Dirwan said the minister planned to send draft regulations for the reserve to the Oireachtas Justice Committee and the Garda Conciliation Council.
“We will send a submission to the Oireachtas Justice Committee and the executive will decide whether to participate in the conciliation council.”
The AGSI will discuss the matter further at the annual general meeting in Killarney next month.
