Campaign to recruit garda reserves

A RECRUITMENT campaign for the Garda Reserve force is to begin on Monday and will run for four weeks, it was confirmed yesterday.

Advertisements will be placed in the national media looking for people to join the volunteer body, which will act as a back-up to the main force.

The reserve has an initial target of 900.

Pushed by the Government and supported by most of the political parties, the reserve is opposed by the two main garda representative associations.

Both the Garda Representative Association (GRA) and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) have been involved in a bitter row with justice minister Michael McDowell.

Both bodies have adopted a policy of non-cooperation with the force, although only the AGSI is opposed in principle to the body.

However, the GRA wants action on staffing, resources and modern equipment.