The two biggest representative associations have reiterated their opposition to plans for a Garda reserve, at a meeting of Dublin-based gardaí last night.

Five hundred sergeants, inspectors and rank-and-file gardaí gathered at the Red Cow Inn to hear the leaders of their representative organisations argue that members of the force should refuse to co-operate with the reserves.

Garda Representative Association (GRA) president Dermot O'Donnell told the meeting that plans for the reserve amounted to "an electioneering ploy masquerading as policing reform".

The Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, had failed to resource the force properly, according to Mr O'Donnell. Part-time reservists had no place alongside full-time professional officers."We understand the problems facing the force and we know that the reserve would do nothing but exacerbate the challenges we face on a daily basis."

Garda Bernie Connell, Crumlin station, said on-street crime was becoming more violent. The Government should equip gardaí to deal with this rather than introduce a reserve force. "We need protective clothing, we need incapacitants such as pepper spray and we need enough properly-designed patrol cars," she told the meeting.

Garda Damien McCarthy, Harcourt Terrace station, said the riot in O'Connell Street last February represented the type of policing challenge that reservists would not be able to manage. Until the full-time force was properly resourced, there was "no chance" of the GRA entering into negotiations with Mr McDowell about a reserve force.

Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) president Paschal Feeney said the reserve plan was "aimed at de-professionalising the force". He told the meeting it would be impossible to disclose the specific nature of AGSI's non-co-operation policy until the Government had published details of how the reserve force would be introduced.

"I notice that the Minister is not proposing to recruit volunteer lawyers as part of his reform proposal. Could this have anything to do with the fact that he himself is a lawyer?"

Last night's gathering followed recent regional meetings in Cork, Laois, and Sligo.

The latest rally, which was attended by members serving across Leinster, also came less than a week before the GRA's annual conference in Galway.

In an unprecedented development the GRA executive has decided not to invite Mr McDowell to address its conference.

Delegates are expected to pass a motion calling on the association to pursue a policy of non-co-operation in relation to the Garda reserve. A similar motion was passed by delegates at the AGSI's annual conference in Killarney, Co Kerry, a fortnight ago.

As presently envisaged, members of the reserve would be permitted to operate only while under the supervision of a full-time garda.

If members of the associations withdraw their co-operation the reserve force would, in theory, be unworkable.

Mr McDowell has already warned members of the GRA and AGSI that the reserve force has been enshrined in legislation.

He said members of the force had a duty to uphold all laws, and could not adopt an a-la-carte approach.
Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy has said he believes the reserve force will enhance policing.

He also said he has no option but to comply with the Garda Síochána Act, which provides for the reserves.