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GRA DISPUTES MCDOWELL's VERSION
19th February 2006:
The Garda Representative Association has disputed the
version of events given this evening by the Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform, Mr Michael McDowell in relation to the instigation of the setting up of the proposed Garda reserve
force. PJ Stone, GRA General Secretary, has called on the Minister to clarify exactly where the proposal to set up the reservists first came from.
Mr Stone said in the Ministers
statement earlier, the Minister stated that the Garda Commissioner asked him to set up a reserve police force. Mr Stone said the information in the possession of Garda Representative Association
clearly illustrates this is not the case. We call on him now to clarify this discrepancy on which the proposal first came to light and whether any correspondence was issued from his department
instructing the Garda Commissioner to instigate the polciy for the recruitment process for the reserve force.
What's at stake here is the honesty and integrity of the Minister on this
matter. This issue has been floated in full knowledge it would deflect scrutiny from the fact that an Garda Síochána is grinding to a halt as a police force because the Minister has failed to deliver
the promises made in the programme for government leaving it on the brink of malfunction due lack of resources."
Mr Stone said the Association was incensed with the Minister comments
in relation to the usage of the phrase 'yellow pack' towards those who would wish to serve their country. "I would ask the Minister to show where any Garda association used that phrase
on this matter."
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