Michael McDowell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agree with was said by Senator Buttimer with regard to Taiwan. I support him in that regard. There is a motion on the Order Paper, in my name and that of other Senators, in regard to Richard O'Halloran who is entering another year of captivity in China. I want to emphasise that.

Today, I want to raise an issue of volunteerism and, in particular, to ask the Deputy Leader to seek the presence in this House of the Minister for Justice, when available, to discuss the issue of the Garda Reserve. The Garda Reserve is withering on the vine. When I was Minister for Justice and Equality, I had all-party support for its introduction. The recruitment process for the Garda Reserve has completely collapsed. At the moment, it is in that terrible limbo of being under review. I support Garda Commissioner Drew Harris in all of his reforms and all of his improvements of standards within An Garda Síochána in its professionalism and policing function, but he does not see the urgency of having local contacts for An Garda Síochána, people in every area in Ireland who have direct links with An Garda Síochána.I will go back to what Senator Crowe said about Eyre Square. If there is a resourcing issue in Galway at night or whatever, there is a simple way to deal with that and that is to have reservists who will support An Garda Síochána in carrying out their functions.

It may be that Commissioner Harris, who comes from Northern Ireland, has a slightly different view of reserve constables and, historically, I could well understand that. I believe that keeping An Garda Síochána in contact with the people rather than patrolling and policing from cars travelling at 30 km/h through areas does require new consideration to be given to improving the Garda Reserve recruitment, and making use of those decent people who have been effectively left aside, having volunteered and become members of An Garda Síochána.