Opposition to any attempt to introduce "accelerated promotions", as proposed in the recent reports of the Garda Inspectorate and a high-level advisory group, was promised yesterday by the organisation representing middle-ranking members of the force.
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) said that while it welcomed many of the proposals for better management presented by the head of the Garda Inspectorate, Kathleen O'Toole, it would oppose others.
"Any such 'cherry-picking' of persons for fast-track promotions could put us right back to the bad old days when nepotism was rife and there was a huge perception that promotions and appointments were made on a favouritism basis and not on merit," said Joe Dirwan, general secretary of the AGSI.
"After years of agitation to obtain a fair and transparent system we now have one which is based on competencies and that system must be given a chance to show its worth."
Mr Dirwan said the AGSI was also concerned at proposals in both reports to create a more autonomous regional structure for the Garda Síochána and warned such a structure could create additional bureaucracies and varying styles of policing in different areas.
"The national model has worked well, by and large, and we should be mindful of the experiment with regional health boards, which was not a happy one," Mr Dirwan said.