The reputation of An Garda Síochána may be damaged in the eyes of the public if members of the force embark on a policy of non-co-operation with the new Garda reserve force, the Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, has said.
"If the public got the idea that the volunteer reserve was being damaged by a policy of non-co-operation, it wouldn't be the volunteers or the Government which would be seen to be irresponsible in the eyes of the people. It would be the people who were carrying out that campaign and it would end up on their doorstep, which wouldn't be good for any of us."
He was speaking after a meeting in Dublin yesterday with a delegation from the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, at which the Garda reserve plan was discussed.
The association's president, Joe Dirwan, said he and his officials had heard nothing yesterday that would dissuade it from its view that the reserve plan should be abandoned.
He accepted there was widespread support for the reserve force, but insisted it was not needed. Neither his organisation nor the Garda Representative Association would be co-operating with the reserve force. "We sympathise with the public; there is a crying need for extra gardaí," he said.
He did not see a "collision course" on the plans for the Garda reserve.
After the reserve force regulations had been framed, but before they were approved, the association would appear before the Oireachtas committee on justice to outline its concerns.
Mr McDowell said he would press ahead with the reserve force plans. Recruitment would begin in May.
