McDowell’s reserve plans appear to be made up as they go along

JUSTICE MINISTER Michael McDowell seriously needs to revisit the drawing board as far as his reserve garda force is concerned, because it istotally impractical.

In fact, he might forget about it entirely, if his ego would allow him, and concentrate his energies on giving our proper police force the manpower and resources it badly needs.

Within hours of senior gardaí voicing criticism before the Oireachtas committee on justice, his plan to have 4,000 reserves was drastically cut to 1,500 — and even this is too many reserve bodies.