Dear Madam,
In relation to Senator John Minihan's assertions (7.4.06) I am amused at how he has concluded I gave the impression of not respecting the decisions of the Oireachtas. We will abide by any such decision. As a representative body, with the welfare of our members uppermost in anything we do, we are merely asking the question should we not fix what we have first like every other police force that has a reserve before implementing such a fundamental change? Our rights to express the concerns of our members are enshrined in the Garda Act. Does the Senator wish to deny us that right? His utterances are indicative of a government out of touch with the wishes of vast majority of the Irish people who in a recent independent poll, 80% of whom said they wished to see the Gardaí properly resourced before the introduction of the Reserve. Indeed his party colleague, Michael McDowell's own poll conducted for the Dept of Justice, in which 81% of participants said they would prefer to see an increased role for civilians rather than reservists. Why not reactivate the civilianisation programme then, rather than waste €20million and rising on the reserve?
Senaor Minihan's figures in relation to resourcing an Garda Siochana are the standard spin trotted out by the government in relation to the record increase in Garda budget. A brief look at CSO figures on Garda overtime over the same period will show a whopping 80% of this so-called record increase has gone on overtime because they are not enough Gardai to do the work required of a growing population. There has been no comparable index-linked increase in capital investment. Only last January the tenders for a Garda radio were published after a six year delay. What happened the contract John O'Donoghue signed as Minister for Justice in 2001 with Nokia for a secure radio system which he announced to great fanfare? It is my contention that what motivated Senator Minihan to write in was my statement that this government's legacy come the next election will be "patients on trolleys instead of hospital beds, children in prefabs instead of classrooms and now mock Gardai instead of real ones." 
Don't the PD's have very thin skins of late when people tell them the truth?

Regards

PJ Stone
General Secretary
Garda Representative Association



Senator Minihan's Letter to Irish Times, Friday 7th April 2006

PLAN FOR GARDA RESERVE FORCE

Madam, - As a former member of the Permanent Defence Forces, I note with profound regret both the recent article on the planned Garda reserve by P.J. Stone (Opinion & Analysis, March 31st) and Mr Stone's subsequent remarks on the visit of the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner to the UK to look at the operations of the police reserve in that jurisdiction.

The first commissioner of An Garda Síochána, Commissioner Michael Staines, once said that "the Garda Síochána will succeed, not by force of arms or numbers, but by their moral authority as servants of the people". The decisions of the Oireachtas are the means by which the people of Ireland express their will, and must be respected by all these who deserve to be called servants of the people.

The current Garda Commissioner has correctly said: "The legislators have legislated. We must comply with the legislation. The elected politicians have made a decision that the reserve will be recruited and that's what is going to happen. Anything that improves the service to the community, I'm all for it, and I feel this will improve the service."

In contrast, Mr Stone appears to believe he can set at naught a decision of the Oireachtas and has attacked the integrity of his commanding officer, the Garda Commissioner, for doing no more and no less than his duty - that is, seeking to implement the law of the land.

How can Mr Stone expect members of the public to respect the Garda Síochána if the representatives of the Garda will not respect the decisions of the Oireachtas from which their own authority derives?

Mr Stone claims the Government is not committed to properly resourcing the Garda. In fact the Garda is now better resourced than at any time in its history. Spending has increased from €609 million in 1997 to €1.25 billion today. Garda numbers have risen from 10,800 to 12,264 today, (more than 13 per cent). By the end of 2006, total Garda numbers (including recruits in training) will exceed 14,000.

Mr Stone claims to be defending the professional standards of the force, but how could anyone describe his recent comments, in which he has made personalised attacks on the integrity and character of the Commissioner, as anything other than unprofessional?

I had the honour to serve beside members of the Garda Síochána and have always admired their courage, commitment and professionalism. I valued and value their friendship. We took a similar oath and stayed loyal to it. When I read what P.J. Stone had to say in recent weeks I begin to wonder what his oath means to him and where is he leading his members and An Garda Síochána.
- Yours, etc,

Senator JOHN MINIHAN, Seanad Éireann, Dublin 2.