Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

To be more accurate, the Minister mentioned the term "yellow pack gardaí". My party is not in favour of a reserve model as proposed by the Minister. People with Garda powers must be properly trained and must have the appropriate experience. It cannot be a half-way house, as the Minister proposes. He should focus his efforts on his recruitment drive of which he has spoken on many occasions.

We favour the establishment of panels of retired members of the Garda so that they be available on a needs and divisional basis. To take a simple example, a garda on maternity leave cannot be replaced. If there were a panel type approach such as we propose, this problem would not arise.

If there is to be any credibility in a reserve force, it should comprise former members of the Garda or police forces and they should be appointed after a rigorous selection process.

We are not suggesting in any way that it would be a cushy number for retired gardaí. That is not a charge which we would like to have made against us. We believe there are quite a number of people within the Garda who would retire early who would want, and would consider being on, a reserve panel. We will deal with the amendments on that basis.