Gardaí angry as McDowell rows back on recruit pledge
Speaking for the first time to a garda association, Mr McDowell said the Government could not recruit the promised gardaí because the money wasn't there. He said "economic and financial circumstances" were to blame.
"The Government remains committed to increasing it by another 1,800 as soon as resources become available," he said.
"The gardaí now have €1 billion spent on them, a significant level of resources. The real issue is to make the most of the resources we have. Numbers are not the only issue."
But as a young man continues to fight for his life after being viciously assaulted on Dublin's Grafton Street, the president of the Association of Garda Sergeants & Inspectors (ASGI) told the minister more gardaí were urgently needed.
"The Government of which you are a member minister had promised to raise the strength of the force to 14,000 but this promise is now 'on hold' because of the current cutbacks and the levels are at about 11,900," AGSI president Joe Dirwan told the conference in Galway..
"The need for the 2,000 additional gardaí has not gone away. If they were needed at the time of the promise, they are more urgently needed now.
"Crime is rising and the latest figures are dramatic evidence of that with serious crime up to 22%, assaults up 50% and sexual offences up 62%.
"The population is growing, public order incidents are taking place more frequently and greater violence is being used."
Mr McDowell, however, added he was increasing the intake at the Garda Training College by 640 and that this would bring the strength of the force to 12,200 a record high.
Fine Gael justice spokesman John Deasy and Labour Party justice spokesman Joe Costello also accused Mr McDowell of reneging on the Government's promise.
Mr Costello said that of the 35 new bills promised by Mr McDowell to combat crime, just one had been published and none had been enacted.
"Minister McDowell's latest diatribe at the PD conference about tackling crime and public disorder rings hollow when his record after almost a year in office is examined.
"Of the 35 new bills promised by the minister, just one has been published and not a single one has been enacted," he said.
Mr Deasy said gardaí are not being given the resources to increase numbers. He said low morale was forcing many gardaí to take early retirement and experienced members are being transferred to special units and not being replaced at station level.
But, while under fire for reneging on promises, Mr McDowell vowed to follow a "get tough" policy to halt escalating alcohol-related crime.
Mr McDowell said although some of his policies may be regarded as draconian he was committed to carrying them out.
"I make no apology for the fact that I intend to be even tougher on drink-induced criminality," he said.
"Some may consider that the measures I intend to introduce, coupled with the existing law, are severe, even draconian. I believe the situation warrants such a course."
The minister said the public expected him and officers to follow a get tough policy in this area.
"Strict enforcement of the law in this area is a matter of huge importance," he said. "Lives are lost, lives are ruined and lives are jeopardised by drink-related crime."
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