Citing low morale, study calls for Garda reforms

Morale is poor within An Garda Síochána, with many members feeling undervalued, under-resourced and wary of change, a Government committee established to advise on transforming the force has concluded.

The Garda Síochána Act implementation review group has also recommended major changes in the way gardaí are recruited, saying more working-class members are needed.

It wants to see young members promoted to senior roles. It also believes police officers from other jurisdictions should be allowed to apply for senior Garda jobs in order to breathe new ideas into the force.

The six-member group was established by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell last April. It was chaired by Senator Maurice Hayes and charged with overseeing the first stages of the implementation of the Garda Síochána Act.

The new legislation represents the biggest shake-up of the force since the formation of the State, providing for, among other things, the establishment of a new Garda Ombudsman Commission and Garda Inspectorate.

At the publication of the group's report yesterday Senator Hayes said the force was facing a prolonged period of major change. This would only prove successful if members were consulted and included in the process.

"I think the guards by and large feel undervalued by the public and undervalued by their organisation," he said.

"They are worried about changes, they think demands are being made on them for which the resources aren't there."

Mr McDowell said following recent events such as those covered by the Morris tribunal it was not surprising that the morale of some members had been affected.

A new round of recruitment would soon take place. The committee's observations about working-class candidates would be taken on board.

Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy said he looked forward to the period of change ahead.

While expressing satisfaction with the preparatory work done on the agencies provided for under the Act, Senator Hayes's group makes a number of recommendations which it believes will be needed to modernise the force in the manner envisaged.

It believes the appointment of younger officers to senior roles would ensure that retirements from key positions were staggered, thus avoiding the loss of many senior officers at the same time.

It has also advised the Government that gardaí should be allowed to work for periods in foreign forces to witness at first hand alternative approaches to policing.

It has also advised the Department of Justice that it needs to take a step back from dictating how the Garda budget is spent. It believes these responsibilities should be left in the hands of the Garda Commissioner.

It also recommends the devolution of power to regional assistant commissioners and to other senior Garda and civilian personnel in some areas such as human resources.

These recommendations were reported in The Irish Times a fortnight ago.

Mr McDowell confirmed that the budget for the three-member Garda Ombudsman Commission was €10 million. Staffing levels at the agency, which will investigate complaints against members of the force, would be between 50 and 100.

The three members of the commission were formally appointed by President Mary McAleese last night. They are: Mr Justice Kevin Haugh; former Irish Times editor Conor Brady; and Carmel Foley. Ms Foley yesterday resigned from her position as director of consumer affairs in order to take up her new role.

Senator Hayes said he viewed the creation of the Garda Inspectorate as a very important development in that it would benchmark Garda operations and procedures against international best practice. This office will have a budget of €1.9 million.