Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I am not sure I would go along with Senator Cummins in dismissing this idea. I see certain merit in it. If one looks at the analogy which the Minister has made with Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil, one will find that people got a training there which gave them an understanding of the Army and they got discipline which stood to them in other aspects of their lives. Many regarded it as good training for young people, apart altogether from the benefits which would accrue nationally by having a trained reserve force within the Army. The same could be applied in the police force as a way of soliciting greater community support for the Garda Síochána and its activities, which is essential to good policing, in my view. The more support given to gardaí on the ground and the more tangible that support is by way of co-operation and information, the better it will be for society.

The Minister has discussed with the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights the possibility of examining best practice in other jurisdictions. Those operating in a functioning capacity will require to be trained effectively and there will probably need to be a limit put on their range of activities in that they may not be given the full range of responsibilities and activities of the Garda Síochána.

This proposal could be an enhancement of the community contribution to the Garda Síochána. It should be rolled out on a pilot basis and tweaked in order to make it effective. The proposal should not be dismissed out of hand. Section 14(3) states: "While on duty, a volunteer member has the powers, immunities, privileges ad duties as a person appointed under section 13 to the rank of garda." I disagree with amendment No. 20 which proposes that the volunteer members would not have the same powers. They must be given the same powers as the Garda Síochána, otherwise they would be neutered and ineffective.

Another point was raised in an earlier debate about recruiting people from areas which historically may not have been recruiting areas for the Garda Síochána. Some such communities may be home to criminals involved in the drugs trade. It is important to ensure that the people recruited would be given all the protection afforded a member of the Garda Síochána so that they are not isolated within those communities.

I see merit in this proposal as it relates to traffic control. The N4 is a three-lane carriageway in each direction with a speed limit zone of 40 mph. I am appalled to see gardaí trying to catch people speeding on that road. I travelled 160 or 170 miles one day and that was the only location where I saw gardaí——