Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The events of the last 24 hours have again hammered home the need to have uniformed gardaí on the street, both as a deterrent and from a reassurance point of view. For that reason, I raise the Garda Reserve force this morning. It is an outfit that has been around for about 20 years. There is currently about 300 reserve gardaí but they have never really got the recognition or the acknowledgement from the State that they rightly deserve. The members of other part-time uniformed services in the country such as the Coast Guard and the Civil Defence actually get a medal awarded to them after about ten years' service. I would be grateful if the Tánaiste could discuss with the Minister, Deputy Harris, whether something similar could be done for reserve gardaí. It would cost only a handful of euro but it would be hugely appreciated by the 300 reserve gardaí concerned. If it is important to them, it is important to me and it should be important to us all.

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