McDowell's 'open door' on Garda reserve force

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said he was available to talk to gardaí about the proposed Garda Reserve Force.

He said the legislation setting up the force was crafted on the supposition that the initiative and proposals would come from the Garda Commissioner and that it would not be a question of the minister deciding on it and then consulting the Garda associations.

"From the moment I received the commissioner's proposals, I indicated that I would maintain an open-door policy with the Garda. I pre-empted no one in this respect. I re-emphasise that I will talk to anybody at any time on this subject."

The Minister was replying to Fine Gael spokesman on justice Jim O'Keeffe, who said Fine Gael supported the establishment of a reserve force. "My concern is that the ham-fisted approach of the minister in the introduction of a Garda reserve may have damaged the successful implementation of the scheme."

Labour spokesman Joe Costello said the minister had referred to building up the reserve force to 4,000 members.

"This will have major repercussions. The reassurances that were needed at the time were not forthcoming and have not been given since, even though the minister has gone down the road some distance towards opening up the debate, having consultation and so on.

"The fear of the Garda Representative Association and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors arises from the minister's past record in regard to delivery of services in the Garda."

It was no wonder that gardaí considered the reserve force "yellow pack", Mr Costello added, "if it would take more than six years to get 2,000 full-time, trained gardaí in place, while 900 reserves would be in place by next September.

Mr McDowell said he favoured a consensus approach. "That is what I am doing. My door is open. I am bringing the regulations to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights. It is open to members of that committee to bring in the representative associations and to discuss any principled difficulties they may have with them."