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Irish Policing At A Crossroads, Minister Must Scrap Reserve plans
GRA/AGSI Press Release, Portlaoise: March 6th 2006
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) have tonight said that they will take the opportunity of future meetings with Justice Minister Michael McDowell to tell him once again to scrap the proposed Garda Reserve. The associations have been invited to meet the Minister, at his invitation, in the near future.
Speaking in front of over 1000 Gardai in Portlaoise, GRA president Dermot O'Donnell and AGSI President Joe Dirwan said that the associations remained resolute in their course of action; “I am under the consistent impression at present that this organisation is now at a junction. That policing in
Ireland has reached a crossroads from which we must now choose between two paths, one of which leads to a brighter and better future for us as fulltime officers of the law and for the Irish people, who we must always think of first. The proposed Garda Reserve would represent a serious deviation from this path,”said Mr O'Donnell.
“We have considered this proposal fully. We think that it is abhorrent and that no self-respecting, full-time garda should be asked to tolerate it. Both executives have decided on a policy of non-cooperation with the Reserves,” said AGSI President Joe Dirwan.
Both associations have highlighted the many flaws inherent in the reserves plan both in Portlaoise last night and at previous meetings in Sligo and Cork during previous weeks. Resourcing and manpower are the key issues for full time Gardai and a properly resourced full time force must be the cornerstone of a police force which the irish public needs and deserves. GRA Longford/Westmeath representative Chris Lee said: “The only conclusion we draw from this poorly thought out plan to diminish our livelihoods and careers without recourse to consultation, and I don't make this point lightly, is that there is no value put on our work by those we look to for leadership. This is a very worrying conclusion to draw not only for us as state employees and guardians of that state but crucially those we serve, the Irish people.”
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