The Garda Representative Association (GRA) today rejected claims made by the Minister that an Garda Síochána were well resourced and added that the Minister was much mistaken if he believes there is any dilution of the outright opposition of the association to the proposed Garda Reserve. The association was responding to comments made by the Minister on RTE's Today show, with Pat Kenny.
“The comments by the Minister today show a surprising lack of understanding of the reality of front line policing,” said GRA President Dermot O'Donnell. The GRA also deny claims by the Minister that he provides funding for the resources required by the force once they have been requested by the Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy. “If this was the case then an Garda Síochána should be in a far better condition then it currently is. It also means that the Garda Commissioner has questions to answer. We have made representation to him on many key items and issues that we need addressed for our members but to date there has been scant progress. Why, for instance, has the Commissioner not signed off on the recommendations resulting from the Report of the Working Group on Garda Patrol cars, which was delivered in April 2005.”

The GRA President said that it was still a common occurrence for patrol cars to be in operation with well over 150,000 miles on the clock, well over the 100,000 miles which the report recommends should be the point when cars are replaced. In addition, despite recommendations that cars be updated to 1.8 litre, almost half the Garda fleet remains substandard in this respect. “The GRA have never been shy of speaking out on issues of resourcing and one of the basic tools of Gardaí, patrol cars, remain in a totally unsuitable condition.” Mr O'Donnell added that the Minister should talk to the staff associations to learn the real concerns of front line Gardaí, as clearly the current procedure isn't working. “There is obviously an information black hole between what we have said we need and what the Minister says he has been asked for.”
The GRA also denied claims by the Minister that there was any sign on division or reduction in opposition to the Garda Reserve. “The Minister was not in attendance at our rally on Tuesday, which was exceptionally well attended, with a strong cross section of age and rank. Gardaí of the Dublin Metropolitan Region are as opposed to this farcical Garda Reserve as Gardaí elsewhere in the country and that was made abundantly clear at the meeting. We also applaud the non-cooperation stance of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors and expect a robust rejection of the Reserve proposal at our own conference next week. This government is delusional if they think there will be any change in our stance on this matter.”

Despite claims to the contrary this morning by the Minister for Justice, the Garda Representative Association wholeheartedly endorse recent claims that there is only one serviceable bullet proof vest available for Gardaí in Portlaoise Divisional Headquarters.

“The facts of this matter are quite simple,”  said Mr O'Donnell. “There are six bullet proof vests in Portlaoise Headquarters. Four of them were issued in the 1970s and as such are totally unfit for duty in any shape or form. There are two modern vests, one male and one female. With one female member here, that leaves one vest available between the remaining eleven Gardaí, which includes members of Detective Sergeant rank.”

Mr O'Donnell said that the Minister's comments that he had personally looked into the matter were even more disturbing considering the depth of their inaccuracy. “If he looked into the matter personally, as he said today, it is remarkable how he came out with such information, which is totally wrong. The facts are that once again, here is an example of Gardaí being left on the front line without basic protection yet the Minister is happy to take the word of Garda management on this issue who have history of saying all is well when patently things are not. Portlaoise is home to a maximum security prison and our members are frequently involved in prisoner escorts and other security duties which require proper personal protective equipment. This is a security issue in addition to an health and safety one. That eleven men should have to share one vest is an absolute disgrace and we call for action on this immediately.”