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Under section 15 of the
Garda Síochána Act 2005, which provides for the establishment of a Garda
reserve, the powers and duties of reserve members may be determined by
the Garda Commissioner. The Garda Commissioner, in a comprehensive
submission to me on the Garda reserve, has proposed that the powers of
reserve members will be confined to the enforcement of certain aspects
of the following Acts: under the Road Traffic Acts - demanding driving
licences and insurance details, enforcing the wearing of seat belts etc;
under the Public Order Act - dealing with the offences of intoxication,
threatening behaviour, disorderly conduct and failure to comply with the
direction of a member of the Garda Síochána; and under the Criminal
Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act - dealing with the offences of
theft and burglary. Reserve members would also be given the power of
arrest under the Criminal Law Act 1997, which provides powers of arrest
for both members of the Garda Síochána and civilians.
The Commissioner’s proposals make clear that reserve members will
receive more than 120 hours initial training, which is up to the best
international standard, including training on the exercise by reserve
members of their limited powers, which are limited; they will be vetted
to the same extent as full-time gardaí as regards security and character
- there is no danger of infiltration by subversives or criminals of the
reserve force or the force in general; they will have the same
educational standards as recruits to the full-time force; they will only
patrol in the presence and under the supervision of full-time members;
they will only serve in uniform and will not drive official vehicles or
carry firearms; they will be subject to a full disciplinary code; and
they will not be deployed to carry out duties in their own immediate
neighbourhoods.
I have said that I am extremely impressed with the comprehensive nature
of the proposals for the Garda Síochána reserve made to me by the Garda
Commissioner. The proposals envisage a thoroughly trained reserve with
carefully selected powers and duties, working under the supervision of
members of the Garda Síochána. I have asked each of the Garda
representative associations to meet me to discuss the proposals before I
proceed to draw up the necessary regulations for Government approval. I
am glad to say the associations have agreed to this and the meetings are
scheduled to take place over the next two weeks. I have also said that I
will present the regulations in draft form to the Joint Committee on
Justice, Equality, Defence and Women’s Rights for consideration.
The Garda reserve will be a valuable additional support for the Garda
Síochána. It will enhance the force’s capacity to respond to emerging
policing challenges and will reinforce its links with local communities.
At the same time, the strength of the force is being massively increased
from 12,000 to 14,000 members and the Garda budget is also at an all
time high. This year’s allocation of €1.29 billion represents an
increase of 13% on the allocation for 2005. It includes provision of
over €83.5 million for overtime, an increase of €23 million on last
year’s allocation, which will yield over 2.7 million hours of Garda
overtime for frontline policing throughout the State. Millions of euro
are being spent on upgrading Garda stations throughout the country and
the roll out of a new state-of-the-art Garda digital radio system will
commence this year.
This huge increase in the strength and resources of the Garda Síochána,
supplemented by the additional resource of a well trained reserve with
carefully selected powers and duties, will significantly increase the
capacity of the Garda Síochána to combat crime and disorder, and provide
the public with the security and safety it rightly demands.
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