A Fianna Fáil TD has called on the Minister for Justice to engage in "full and open consultation" with the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) before introducing his promised Garda reserve force.
Peter Power (Limerick East) said reserve gardaí should only have the power of arrest after they were properly trained and were under the supervision of regular members of the Garda.
Mr Power, who is a member of the joint Oireachtas committee on justice, said consultation between Michael McDowell and the AGSI was crucial. The AGSI has been critical of the plan, saying gardaí would have to "baby- sit" the reserve force members.
"I do not believe any decisions should be made about deploying reserve gardaí until there is agreement on both sides about the full nature of their role," Mr Power said. "The Garda reserve - which in my view is an entirely necessary support for our police force - should only be deployed alongside fully-fledged gardaí.
"Regular members of the Garda Síochána must always be on the front line of fighting crime. The Garda reserve is designed to offer them back-up support . . . Reserve gardaí are designed to be a help, not a hindrance.
"Minister McDowell has made it clear that reserve gardaí . . . will develop close links with local communities and play an important supporting role in the fight against crime."
Mr Power said 900 reserve members could be operating by September and 4,000 would be on duty at the end of the programme.
