The president of the Garda Representative Association has said the corporate image of An Garda Síochána has been damaged by allegations of malpractice and a perceived crisis of leadership and management.
Dermot O'Brien told gardaí attending the group's conference in Carlow that while the public appreciates that front-line officers are not responsible, they are often on the receiving end of negative commentary.
Mr O'Brien said this has damaged the morale of gardaí who are in daily contact with the public.
He also said the removal of the force from direct political control will allow the Garda Commissioner greater manoeuvrability and freedom of speech.
This, he said, is long overdue and in other countries it has enabled the police leadership to be transparent and honest about the impact of resourcing, legislation and political decisions upon their operational capability.
Gardaí are calling for new legislation to enable courts to impose mandatory sentences on people convicted of assaulting gardaí.
Delegates at the GRA conference are also demanding that front-line officers be trained in the use of stun guns and other non-lethal equipment and the introduction of leg restraints.
The conference will also hear a call for a vote of no confidence in the Garda Ombudsman Commission, which investigates allegations of malpractice against gardaí.
About 47 motions are to be debated at the conference.
Rank and file gardaí from Dublin, where most crime is committed, are seeking the introduction of new legislation to enable judges to impose mandatory sentences on those convicted of assaulting members of the force.
Gardaí in Cork and Wicklow want better equipment, including leg restraints and training in the use of non-lethal protective equipment such as stun guns, the re-instatement of the Uzi sub-machine gun and the introduction of ballistic shields for all members who attend armed incidents.
They also want all future garda cars to be purpose-built police cars and at least one patrol van that can transport prisoners in every district.
