The hiring of off-duty gardaí to protect businesses will further stretch the resources of the already understaffed force, according to Labour Party spokesperson on Justice Joe Costello.
Responding to calls from the Chamber of Commerce for Ireland (CCI) for the gardaí to be allowed do freelance security work, Mr Costello said such a move would over-stretch Garda time and manpower.
Calls for gardai to be allowed to do freelance security work
"Given how stretched Garda resources currently are and the ongoing failure of the Government to live up to its commitment to provide the 2000 extra gardaí, how can they be expected to provide private services to individual businesses when they haven't the time to fulfil their normal policing duties?
"The idea that gardaí could work in the pay of the private sector is not acceptable, particularly a sector that is heavily regulated and is inspected by the Garda Síochána itself," Mr Costello added.
The CCI has called on the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell "to allow businesses to pay for increased Garda presence where and when they feel it is needed".
The CCI pointed out that, in the US, off-duty police are available for hire to businesses.
"Police, working out of hours in uniform, provide a significant deterrent to antisocial behaviour and criminal behaviour. Privately hired security personnel do not have the same credibility or impact," the CCI added.
The organisation also argued that if private companies were allowed to hire gardaí for events such as concerts and sports games, there is no reason why the same cannot be done for smaller businesses.
