Maurice Hayes (Independent)

I strongly support the idea of a reserve force. Senator Cummins's idea of having pools of retired gardaí is a very interesting one and it could be extremely useful. I do not think other people should be excluded from the reserve force.

To clarify a point about the position in Northern Ireland, the Patten commission recommended that the full-time reserve be stood down. It seemed to us that a full-time reserve force is a contradiction in terms; a full-time person is a policeman. Some of these people had been on their sixth or seventh three-year contract and they were being disgracefully treated in regard to terms and conditions of employment. The commission was very keen on the notion of a part-time reserve force, which, for instance, gives the force a foothold in the community. I have seen reservists doing wonderful work. They bring different skills from their varied backgrounds.

The Garda Síochána is a country-wide force and people naturally move in and out of a district. Very often, the one continuity provided on a local patch comes from the reservists. They become the old heads in the place and they pass on the wisdom learned from dealing with the public. They are also the kind of people who are generally quite content to do foot patrols and go out in the evening. This is a very important aspect of policing. It provides reassurance to the elderly and to mothers. I oppose the amendment.