Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

If the difficulty in recruitment is overcome, the next issue is to determine what strategic role the Garda Reserve should have. The statutory power to decide what role it should play is provided to the Commissioner, who can decide that in consultation with the Policing Authority. We need to see the Garda Reserve taking on broader functions and roles. There is sometimes tension between An Garda Síochána and the Garda Reserve. There is nothing unusual about that. It happens throughout the world wherever there is a reserve police force. However, there are many significant roles the Garda Reserve could play in which it is not involved as yet. For instance, the Minister of State will be aware that colleagues of ours in Fianna Fáil and I have called for the establishment of a transit police. There is no reason not to use the Garda Reserve on some public transport as a pilot project in the first instance to ensure that people on public transport feel safer. The reserve's role also need to be expanded beyond policing crowds at matches and duties such as that.

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