Garda sergeants and inspectors have called for a new get-tough policy on speeding and drunk drivers including a "three-strikes-and-you're-out" penalty points system.
The officers want a zero tolerance policy on drink driving which would mean prosecuting drivers with even very small levels of alcohol in their blood.
Mr Joe Dirwan, the president of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) told delegates at the opening of its three-day annual conference in Cork last night that the effects of the penalty points system had worn off.
He said gardaí should have the power to arrest somebody caught speeding, which they cannot do under existing legislation.
Motorists should also face a scaled system of penalty points where somebody caught speeding significantly would incur more points than drivers marginally over the speed limit.
Penalties should be as high as six points for serious breaches, which would mean disqualification after just three offences, and not up to seven offences as with the present system, he said.
The AGSI president also told delegates that the lack of resources in the force was now chronic.
Manpower was so scarce that gardaí were unable to respond to many emergencies and were continuing to be overrun by drink and drug-fuelled violent crime all over the country, Mr Dirwan said.
It was vital the Government kept its election promise to increase the force by 2,000 members to 14,000.
Some Garda units in Dublin city and Limerick city were down by almost 50 per cent on manpower levels in the late 1980s.
He was critical of the official Garda response to a recent RTÉ Prime Time programme on alleged brutality and malpractice saying the Garda commissioner, Mr Noel Conroy, should have gone on air to defend the force.
Mr Dirwan said while he welcomed many of the measures contained in the new Garda Síochána Bill some shortcomings threatened to undermine the legislation.
In particular, a police authority should have been provided for with responsibility for promotions within the force, as well as for setting policing priorities, which would be completely free of political influence.
"We feel this because for too long many members of the force have had the perception that it was necessary to be aligned to some officer who was, to use the popular phrase, 'in the loop' in order to get promoted."
The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, said he planned to introduce an independent promotion system. However, the commissioner and deputy commissioner would still be appointed by the Minister for Justice.
