McDowell outlines plans for Garda reserve force

The Minister for Justice Mr McDowell has said the Government is considering setting up a Garda reserve force to assist the Garda Síochána in its work.

Speaking at the Garda Representative Association's annual conference, the Minister said the part-time force could comprise retired gardaí and would help the current force with policing.

He said the force would be made up of around 1,200 members, who would join on a voluntary basis.

"Obviously there would be some allowance for uniforms and some out of pocket expenses. But the system in the UK operates on a voluntary basis," he said. The force would engage almost exclusively in uniform duties and would have the same powers as full-time gardaí.

Earlier, the President of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) has questioned the Government's commitment to the force at the Association's annual meeting in Galway.

Questioning why the Government had not moved on it's pre-election promise of an increase in the number of recruits to the Force, Mr Michael Kirby asked if the promise was "a false and shallow promise to the Gardaí and the people."

He said the Government's commitment to increase the Force by 2000 members was greatly welcomed by the GRA but "unfortunately this has not happened." He also questioned how the Government intended to increase the size of the force as it would require a major expansion programme in Garda training.

Mr Kirby invited the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, who was in Galway for the conference, to "see for himself and visit the dangerous and unhealthy buildings in which many of our members spend vast parts of their working lives."

He told the conference that "many gardaí work in old and decrepit buildings around the country, which are not fit for human habitation."

He added: "In the past few years we have seen immense progress in the improvement of conditions for TD's in the Dail. Perhaps we can divide the cake a little and do something along the same lines for gardaí."