Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 314: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to introduce a Garda reserve force; if a cost-benefit analysis has been carried out on the introduction of a reserve force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7385/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Section 15 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides for the establishment of a Garda reserve and Deputies will recall that the measure won widespread support across the political divide in the House during the passage of the Act. As the members of the reserve will not receive a salary the costs structure of this new element in the organisation will be limited to a significant degree.

The Act lays special emphasis on training for members of the Garda reserve. It provides that the power to appoint persons to the reserve may only be exercised if the Commissioner has submitted proposals to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform for the training of persons to be appointed and regulations have been made concerning their recruitment, training and terms and conditions. The Act also provides that a person may not be appointed to the reserve unless he or she has completed the prescribed training. It is also the case under the Act that the Garda Commissioner may determine the range of powers to be exercised and duties to be performed by reserve members. A reserve member will be bound by all the same legal, disciplinary and ethical obligations as a regular member.

In July 2005, the month the Garda Síochána Act was enacted, the Garda Commissioner wrote to me recommending a strength of 4,000 members for the Garda reserve. By way of response, and in the context of advising the Garda Commissioner of the Government's policing priorities for 2006, I set the objective of recruiting 900 reserve members by September of this year.

On 10 February 2006 I received the Commissioner's proposals for the Garda reserve and I can advise the Deputy that these proposals specifically address issues relating to the training, powers and duties of reserve members. I understand, also, that in drawing up these proposals the Commissioner has looked to the successful experience of volunteer police in the UK and other jurisdictions.

I forwarded a detailed synopsis of the Garda Commissioner's proposals for a Garda Síochána reserve and my press release regarding his proposals to each member of this House yesterday, 21 February 2006. As will be seen the document addresses many of the questions that members of the public might well have in relation to the new reserve. I think the Deputy will agree with me that it comprehensively deals with much of the misinformation put out into the public domain over the past couple of months regarding the training and functions of the Garda reserve.

The Commissioner's document makes a number of points clear: there is no question of reservists receiving only 24 hours training; they will receive more than 120 hours initial training which is up to the best international standard; they will be vetted to the same extent as full-time gardaí as regards security and character; there is no danger of infiltration by subversives or criminals; they will have the same educational standards as recruits to the full-time force; they will not be deployed to carry out duties in their own immediate neighbourhoods; they will only patrol in the presence and under the supervision of full-time members; they will only serve in uniform, will not drive official vehicles nor carry firearms, and they will be subject to full disciplinary codes.

I am confident that many of our fellow citizens will be proud to serve in the new Garda reserve. For example, it will offer a huge learning opportunity for younger men and women who may wish to make a career as a full-time member of our police force. Through service with the reserve such young people will be able to get valuable experience working with full time professional police officers. The reserve will also provide an opportunity for continued involvement in law enforcement by retired members of the force, for many of whom policing and serving the community has been a life time passion. It will allow ordinary members of the public from all different walks of life the opportunity to serve their community in a new and positive way.

Far from undermining the professionalism of our police force these people will provide a diverse and rich resource for the Garda Síochána. Police forces across the common law countries have had reservists for many years. Is anyone seriously suggesting that police forces in these countries are second rate as a result? Both Houses of the Oireachtas have carefully considered the merits and in a cross-party, non-partisan debate, democratically approved the principle of a Garda reserve. The Dáil and Seanad debates during the passage of the Garda Act 2005 showed there was almost universal support and enthusiasm for the setting up of such a reserve. The Garda reserve concept has won the support of the Oireachtas, both in the ranks of Government and Opposition parties. I believe the support of the public will also be forthcoming as the concept and the clear benefits it will bring are widely understood.

The Garda reserve will be a valuable additional support for the Garda Síochána. It will enhance its capacity to respond to emerging policing challenges and will reinforce its links with local communities. I have undertaken to consult constructively with the Garda representative associations on the proposals, and I will be asking them, for their part, to undertake to respect the clear will of the Oireachtas in this matter and to engage positively in those consultations.

The new reserve will be a supplementary support and an additional resource for the Garda Síochána. We, as parliamentarians, can rightly be proud of our recent record in resourcing the force. The Garda budget has been increased by 117% since 1997, from €599 million to €1.3 billion in 2006. Between attested members and recruits in training, the strength of the force by the end of this year will be 14,000. Millions of euro are being spent on upgrading Garda stations throughout the country and the roll out of a new state of the art Garda digital radio system will commence this year. This is not the record of an administration which is seeking to provide policing services on the cheap.