Madam, - I believe I represent the views of the great majority of citizens when I express my gratitude for the work carried out daily on our behalf by the men and women of the Garda Síochána.
In addition, members of the force have served with distinction on several UN missions overseas.
I also believe that Garda organisations such as the GRA have every right to campaign for additional resources to ensure the force is one of the best trained and equipped and most effective in the world. However, for such organisations to be against a Garda reserve in principle is plain wrong for the following reasons:
1. It is the Oireachtas which decides such matters and it is the duty of the Garda Síochána to implement and uphold the laws of the land.
2. We have part-time Army reservists and no one seriously claims that such a reserve force undermines the Army.
3. Other jurisdictions successfully operate police reserve forces.
I believe that those community-spirited men and women who join the Garda reserve deserve our respect and thanks. Furthermore, they deserve the co-operation of all those who can and should make this initiative the success that our communities desire it to be. - Yours, etc,
Dr L.F. LACEY, Skerries, Co Dublin.