Garda sergeants and inspectors have strongly criticised plans by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell to establish a reserve Garda force, saying the proposal will result in confidential intelligence being leaked to subversives and organised crime gangs.
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors has described the plan as a "Mad Hatter scheme".
It believes full-time gardaí will have to "babysit" reservists and that they will have to "clean up after botched arrests and other incidents involving reservists".
The association's president, Joe Dirwan, has accused Mr McDowell of implementing his plan without consultation.
He said the Minister had acted in an "underhand fashion" after previously stating legislation providing for the reserve force was "enabling legislation", which could be used at some point in the future. The legislation providing for the establishment of a reserve force is contained in the Garda Síochána Bill.
Reservists with 24 hours training would have access to the Garda's Pulse computer database, which contains details of all ongoing investigations and intelligence.
Mr Dirwan is fearful that this accessibility will result in criminal elements putting their associates into the reserve force in an effort to stay ahead of Garda investigations. He also believes the reserve force may attract unsuitable candidates.
"We fear that the reserve will become a haven for people who are attracted by the idea of having police powers over their neighbours and of settling old scores under the pretence of police action," he said.
"It would suit the Minister far better to properly resource the Garda Síochána, which still has far fewer members per 100,000 of the population than the European average. It would be more cost-efficient if sufficient sergeants were appointed to supervise the members that are in place now.
"It would suit him better to provide the Garda Síochána with a proper radio system to replace the beat-out, antiquated system we have now. When we meet him we will spell out the real position for him in stark terms."
Mr McDowell has said the reserve force will be operating by September next year, at which point he hopes it will have a full strength of 900 members.
These will not receive payment for their work but will be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses. It is envisaged that reservists will work 24 hours each month.
They will be deployed on high-visibility duties including Garda checkpoints, on the beat in residential areas and at public order flashpoints. They will have all the powers of full-time gardaí, including the power of arrest. However, unlike full-time members of the force, they will not have these powers when they are off duty.
Their training will be carried out over 24 hours; two hours over 12 weekends. Applications will be open to any member of the public aged from 18 to 57.
A spokeswoman for Mr McDowell said the Garda Commissioner, Noel Conroy, and not the Minister, would formulate plans for the implementation of the reserve force. She said such a force had been used successfully in other common law countries.
