Sergeants and inspectors renew attack on plans for reserve force
Mr McDowell plans to recruit around 900 volunteers into the Garda Reserve by September to carry out policing duties in the presence of uniformed gardaí.
At a mass meeting in Dublin yesterday, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) repeated its central criticism that the reserve would undermine the professionalism of the force.
AGSI president Paschal Feeney said: “Mr McDowell is attempting to perpetrate a con job on you and on the people of this country by replacing full-time, professional members with amateur part-timers.
“He wants to show that our job can be done by anyone, basically, and to hell with the service to the public and the laws of this land.”
At the AGSI’s annual conference last month, members voted by a slim 55% majority to approve a policy of non-cooperation with the reserve force.
It is thought that while gardaí in rural divisions are strongly opposed to the reserve, particularly due to the potential for neighbour policing neighbour, those in urban divisions have a different view.
Mr Feeney said the association would not be outlining the details of its policy of non-cooperation until it saw Mr McDowell’s regulations to put the reserve into effect.
“It is not possible yet to prepare a full policy of non-cooperation until we see those regulations and study them for possible legal flaws which may be of assistance to us,” he said.
However, he said the AGSI would be looking at areas such as accommodation, communications, transport and roles and responsibilities when considering its non-cooperation policy.
Members of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) also attended the meeting at the Red Cow Moran’s Hotel on the Naas Road and are due to outline their opposition to the reserve at their AGM next week.
AGSI general secretary Joe Dirwan said he was surprised at the decision of the Association of Garda Superintendents to support the reserve.
“One has to ask the question — does the statement by the superintendents’ president reflect the views of the majority of the members of that organisation?
“If it does, then we are being sadly misled and this reserve proposal has already resulted in dividing this force.”
Mr McDowell has vowed to continue with his plans for the reserve and has warned both the GRA and the AGSI they will be breaking the law if they refuse to co-operate.
According to a report from Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy on the proposed reserve, its volunteer members will get 120 hours training and will be vetted like normal gardaí to ensure there is no infiltration by subversive or criminal elements.
They will be subject to the full garda disciplinary code, will not be allowed to drive vehicles or carry firearms, and will be not used to carry out policing duties in their own areas.
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