Government plans greater control in garda reform

THE Government will have more control over gardaí under plans to be unveiled next year aimed at reforming the force.

The plans come at a time when confidence in the gardaí is at an all-time low due allegations of corruption and soaring crime figures.

The reforms include a controversial proposal to allow Justice Minister Michael McDowell play a direct role is setting priorities for the garda and drawing-up targets that the force must meet.

Government sources say this is not a move aimed at undermining the Garda Commissioner's authority and insist that the force will still be operationally independent.

In a move aimed at increasing accountability, the Garda Commissioner will also be made directly accountable for day-to-day finances of the force.

This is in response to a number of scandals, such as senior officers accepting gifts from a tyre company that was awarded a lucrative garda contract.

Other reforming measures include moving more gardaí away from desk-duty and establishing the long-awaited independent garda complaints body.

The proposals are still at an early stage and the Department of Justice is anxious to secure the support of gardaí before they are published next year.

Earlier this week, representative bodies met with department officials for the first time to discuss the plans. Negotiations are expected that with the force to continue for some time.

"The Garda Síochána is being funded from the Government it's only right that we have a say in how things are run. But the minister and the Garda Commissioner are at one this they both realise there has to be change," one Government source said.

Yesterday, Minister McDowell said the planned reforms would not be a quick response to recent issues, such as the Frank Shortt miscarriage of justice case, but were part of a long-term process.

Allegations of Garda corruption in Co Donegal have damaged the force, while last week's high crime figures dealt a further blow to its image.

Minister McDowell said he was hugely disappointed by the conduct of some gardaí in the Shortt case but insisted the public should have full confidence in the force.

Meanwhile, gardaí have started a criminal investigation into the actions of members of the force implicated by the miscarriage of justice case.

Garda Commissioner Pat Byrne said the probe was being overseen by a team of gardaí headed by Assistant Commissioner Kevin Carthy.