Legal provisions for the establishment of new Garda reserve force were enshrined in law today by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Michael McDowell.
The Minister's controversial plan will see some 900 unpaid volunteers recruited to the reserve force in September, each of whom will receive over 120 hours of training.
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) and Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (Agsi), who are opposed to the establishment of a reserve force, are due to meet Mr McDowell next week for talks about the plan.
The provisions are part of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 which will also establish a new Garda Inspectorate to oversee the efficient use of resources.
It will set up new rules relating to cooperation between An Garda Síochána and local authorities relating in particular to the establishment of Joint Policing Committees and security in public places by means of CCTV.
The Minister said that the order, which comes into effect on March 31st, repeals the main Garda Síochana Acts of 1924 and 1925 and brings in new provisions "relating to the continuation of An Garda Síochána as a police service under the Act's provisions, with particular reference to a new modern statement about the functions of An Garda Síochána".
