Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

A reservist and a member of the Garda Síochána both belong to a disciplined force. Volunteer reservists cannot rise through the ranks. They can only be appointed to the rank of a garda. Much of the training at Templemore is designed to create a member who, in principle, could one day be the Garda Commissioner. It may not be necessary in the case of a volunteer reservist. There would an attenuated and limited form of training for a reservist. However, they would be disciplined. Section 14(3) provides that the same powers, immunities, privileges and duties apply to a reservist as a garda. They have an obligation to do as they are told and not do something which is inconsistent with their level of training and expertise. Implicit in the system is the understanding that a reservist would not be used as a fingerprint expert on their first day of the job. Theoretically gardaí are obliged to carry out such functions.

This is not something the representative associations should oppose tooth and claw. If they have an overall view on the long-term interests of policing in Ireland, they should reflect on what I say as I reflected on what they said. It is essential we attempt to bridge the geographical and socio-economic gap between the force and the community it serves if we are to create a climate congenial to its members carrying out their functions as a lifetime career. I am trying to bridge the gap partially with a number of measures. However, it is meant in good faith and the beneficiary will not just be a notional clerk in the Department of Finance worried about sums or overtime bills. That is not the purpose of these measures in any way. The community at large wants to know the gap will not widen and become an ever-widening gulf which will distance the force from the people.

We cannot turn back the clock. I was at a Neighbourhood Watch meeting last night in Harrington Street in Dublin and we discussed the society's changing attitude to the simple matter of being law-abiding. There was a time when everybody left their key in the front door, when the bread man could walk into a house, go to the kitchen, put down the bread, sign it into the book and leave. That world will not return. However, one value that was and still is strong in Ireland is total community support for the Garda Síochána generally.

The phenomenon which Senator Brian Hayes speaks of is a worry, and not simply confined to the heart of his constituency. It applies in a reverse sense to my own, in particular to Donnybrook. How can a young garda buy a house there? How can he or she live in that community to serve it? They may be able to share an apartment. We must address the question of how Donnybrook will have Garda roots in the area just the same as we address the issue in a place such as Fettercairn. It is the same phenomenon and not something which comes from the top downwards in society. It applies across the State and to rural communities also. Will gardaí live in those communities or will they police communities where they know nobody and have no innate understanding of the population and must therefore learn very slowly?

Section 14 is carefully balanced legislation. It is not designed to ram some notional "yellow pack" Garda force down the throats of serving members, the Commissioner or the public. It will probably be my successor, rather than myself, who will receive a request from the Commissioner to establish such a force. It is designed to make that possible, rather than have the new constitution for the Garda Síochána render it impossible. That would be the case if section 14 did not exist.