Gardaí angry as reserve recruitment campaign begins

GARDA representative associations are expected to meet this week to discuss the latest turn in the long-running row over the planned new Garda reserve.

The two main staff bodies — the Garda Representative Association (GRA) and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) — are understood to be angered by the Government’s decision to launch a major recruitment drive for the body.

The recruitment campaign begins in national newspapers today, followed by advertisements in local papers, local and national radio along with publications for ethnic minorities.

The associations — who have a policy of non-cooperation with the reserve — declined to comment yesterday on the recruitment drive through which the Government hope to fill 1,000 full-time places.

However, it is understood the two staff bodies are annoyed at the move, particularly as discussions on the body were ongoing within garda internal industrial relations machinery.

The associations have tried to raise the principle of the reserve at the Garda Conciliation Council, but officials from the Department of Justice have refused to do so.

It is also understood the officials were willing to discuss the regulations but the meetings ended with the garda associations asking for the matter to go to an outside facilitator.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell has repeatedly told the associations that the Government, and the Oireachtas, had decided the Garda Reserve was a reality, and that legislation had been passed to set it up.

It is still not clear how the reservists will be trained if gardaí, sergeants and inspectors refuse to cooperate with them. Phase four of their training involves 40 hours at a garda station engaged in beat patrols accompanied by a garda.

Garda superintendents previously told the Oireachtas Justice Committee there simply wasn’t the “spare capacity” to manage the Garda Reserve.