Address on the occasion of the Garda Reserve Graduation

Commissioner, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen and most  especially, members of the Garda Reserve.

I am delighted to be here with you on this important occasion. You should  rightly feel very proud to have successfully completed what I have no doubt  has been a testing period of training. Now you are ready to join the  thousands of members of An Garda Síochána who patrol our streets and keep  our communities safe.

From today, when on duty as Reserve Gardaí, you will be members of An Garda  Síochána. With this membership comes responsibilities. The Garda Force has  a long and proud tradition – a tradition of upholding the law of the land  without fear or favour. It has been in existence since the foundation of  this State. It has served the citizens of this country by upholding the law  and protecting the most vulnerable in our society. Members of An GardaSíochána enjoy huge levels of trust within the communities that they serve  and which you represent.

Today is a day of celebration for you and your families. However, it would  be remiss of me not to make reference to the risks that Gardaí inevitably  encounter as they go about their work. The recent brutal murder of  Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, as he carried out his duties as a member of  An Garda Síochána, sent shock waves through our communities. It was a  despicable and cowardly act which was abhorred by all decent, right-minded  people throughout the country.

A safe society is the responsibility of every member of that society and  not just the Gardaí. The interconnection between the Gardaí and our  communities is vital to ensure the successful delivery of an effective  policing service in this State.

You have each made the choice to give willingly of your time to contribute  to the good of society. Your volunteering as a Reserve Garda will help to  maintain peace and security in our communities. On behalf of all of us who  reside in this State, I thank you.

No one organisation is immune from the harsh economic realities which are  impacting our society and every single public sector worker in this State.  At a most difficult economic time, the Government is doing everything  possible to maintain the resources available to An Garda Síochána at the  highest possible level. I want to take this opportunity to clearly state  that it is my intention that Garda numbers will not fall below 13,000 and I  will shortly be taking proposals to Cabinet in relation to this.

The Commissioner is overseeing radical changes to make better use of  existing resources to bring about a more effective and efficient policing  service. There has been widespread reaction to the closure of some Garda  stations. Much of the criticism is designed to create fear within our  communities. The revised structures will provide for the clustering of  services at policing hubs. Enhanced patrolling will be introduced and an  additional 61,000 hours will become available for operational policing. An  Garda Síochána has recently acquired a number of vehicles which are being  converted into mobile Garda offices and these will be assigned to areas  where Garda stations have been closed. The maximum possible number of  Gardaí will be freed from desk duties in order to provide a more visible  Garda presence in our communities.

I would now like to refer to talks currently taking place to effect  essential public expenditure savings and which relate to the pay and  allowances of all public servants. At present, all of the trade union and
representative bodies are constructively engaged in discussions except for  the GRA and the AGSI who ended their engagement shortly after the talks  process commenced. Unions and representative bodies representing all other  24/7 workers remain within the tent whilst regrettably the two Garda
representative bodies are outside. It is unfortunate that members of An  Garda Síochána feel they are being targeted in the context of talks which  are currently ongoing to identify savings to be achieved which will affect  everyone in the public service including all Members of the Oireachtas and  all Ministers.

Expressions of anger and personal abuse or condemnation are no substitute  for rational engagement. I am urging the Garda representative bodies to  re-engage in the talks process as it is only by doing so that they can  influence the outcome of the talks. I acknowledge that members of the  Force have genuine concerns but these can only be fully considered and  properly addressed by participation in the talks process.

As Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, I fully recognise and am  totally supportive of the crucial role that An Garda Síochána plays in the  interests of the State and for all of us who reside in it. I also fully  support the Garda Commissioner and those working with him in the crucial  role that they play in making operational decisions and judgements to  ensure we have a modern and effective policing service. It is my role in  Government to be supportive in the context of ensuring as best as I can in  the difficult financial circumstances confronting the State that the  maximum possible resources are available to An Garda Síochána to facilitate  its important work. For 2013, €1.4 Billion has been allocated for An  Garda Síochána and it is of crucial importance that the resources available  are efficiently used both in the interests of the Force and in the  interests of the general public. Insofar as this requires modernisation  and change based on a sound operational assessment, it is important that  change is embraced and not resisted.

Of additional importance is that the good standing and the widespread  public respect for An Garda Síochána is maintained and that members of the  Force do not lose sight of the important and unique role that the Force has  in this State. The importance of discipline within the Force cannot be  over-emphasised and it is crucial that rank and file members respect and  comply with operational decisions and reforms identified as necessary by  those in a position of authority within An Garda Síochána. Whatever  criticism some may wish to voice of me, it is not appropriate that members  of a disciplined Force engage in public criticism of the Garda  Commissioner. It is also important that members of the Force remember,  and in particular this applies to those in positions of leadership in the  Garda representative bodies, that the Force plays a crucial role in  policing our Constitutional democracy and in protecting our citizens from  subversion. Whilst it is desirable that the representative bodies play a  constructive role in addressing issues that affect both the pay and  conditions of work of members of the Force, they should not lead their  members down the slippery slope of questioning the democratic entitlement  of the Government of the day to engage in the current discussions at a  time when the State, including many citizens in our State both in the  public and private sector are under enormous financial pressure, at a  time when we have 430,000 unemployed and at a time when, in order to  obtain crucial financial supports to pay for public services we remain  under an obligation to substantially reduce the State’s public expenditure.  Contrary to what has been stated, these discussions are not about a breach  of the Croke Park Agreement but about negotiating a new agreement to apply  to the end of 2016.

The Garda Reserve is representative of the new diverse Ireland. It is  heartening to see so many graduates today from a number of different  countries and Garda reserves now represent 31 different countries from  around the world. Your participation in the Garda Reserve sends out a  strong message of inclusively to all communities. It also sends out the  message that you are willing to serve your adopted country in the best  possible way. Your membership will serve to strengthen even more the ties  between our communities and An Garda Síochána.

The Garda Reserve has now over 1,000 members and continues to grow. The  Reserve makes a real and tangible contribution to the policing of our  State. Frontline visibility is a key component of community policing and  you will play a vital role in the provision of this service.

I would also like to highlight that, despite reports to the contrary, this  first-rate College here in Templemore is, and will continue to be, the  primary training centre for recruit and serving Gardaí. As you will of  course be well aware, Garda Reserve training is taking place here.  Continuous professional development training for full time members is also  taking place here and that will continue. The question of new recruitment  is under active consideration and it is an issue that I will address with  my Cabinet colleagues during the course of this year. Templemore College,  of course, also plays an important role in the local economy. In this  local context, I was pleased to announce earlier this week that 25  additional staff will shortly be redeployed to the Garda Central Vetting  Unit and that these staff will be located in the Department of Justice  offices in Tipperary town.

Finally, I would like to thank the staff here at the training college, who,  I’m sure you will agree, provide top-class instruction and guidance in  preparation for your future service. I have no doubt that they will join  with me in congratulating you on your achievements so far, and wishing you  well in your future time with An Garda Síochána. Above all, I would like  you to enjoy the day and the well-deserved celebrations with your friends  and family.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh.