Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I cannot accept this amendment in its present form. A solid case for the re-establishment of a Dublin metropolitan police force would have to be made before I could accept such a radical departure. An Assistant Commissioner with responsibility for the Dublin area exists. Dublin gardaí have distinctive badge numbers on their epaulettes. Would such a proposed force be separate with its own uniform? Are promotional opportunities to be segregated into this force? I would have to consider these and a series of other issues.

Subsection (2) of the amendment makes it mandatory to create this service within 12 months of the passing of the Act. This means it will not be some distant possibility but a mandatory change in the structure of the Garda Síochána. There was a time when there was a separate police force. DMP men wore their helmets while the rest of the Garda did not. When the Garda was made a unified force, the Dublin metropolitan region members still wore their traditional helmets until the 1950s when it was changed. I do not believe there is support in the service or Dublin city for the establishment of a separate force without making a case as to how it would operate.

I do not want to establish a geographical distinction within the Garda Síochána which would have the effect of reducing the Garda Commissioner's capacity to deploy the resources of the force across the State as is necessary. Would DMP men be liable to be sent down to serve on, say, a presidential visit by Mr. Bush to Shannon? Would those gardaí, not in this proposed Dublin metropolitan police force, be liable to serve in the city centre during May Day demonstrations? I do not know the answers to these questions and am not convinced that this is a worthwhile venture.