Nothing achieved at meeting, claims AGSI

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors has said its meeting today with the Minister for Justice over the introduction of the proposed Garda Reserve achieved nothing.

The AGSI said it was totally opposed to the establishment of the new unpaid volunteer force, which it said would destroy morale among uniformed gardaí.

After the meeting, Minister Michael McDowell said he would meet the association again once the Garda Commissioner, Noel Conroy, had sent him the outline plan for the forthcoming reserve.

The volunteer force will consist of 4,000 members, 900 of whom are due to be on the streets by next September.

However, the AGSI says no civilians should police the streets.