When is a garda not a garda? When he's a member of the airport or harbour police. But not everyone sees the distinction. The Garda-like uniforms and the word "police" on their jackets mean they are often confused with gardai.
But it would be a bad idea to ignore these officers. Both the harbour and airport police have similar powers to the gardai in their jurisdictions.
"Some people think the airport police are just security guards," said Ms Siobhan Moore, spokeswoman for Aer Rianta. "But these are fully authorised officers. They have the exact same powers of arrest as guards."
Aer Rianta employs about 250 airport police at Dublin Airport and a further 100 at Cork and Shannon. Airport police spend some time in the Garda Training College in Temple more as part of their three-month training course.
Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company employs about 20 police officers, who "do not come from a security agency. They are hired and trained by the harbour company", a spokesman said.
Under the Air Navigation Transport Act, airport police have the power to stop, search and detain any person or vehicle on airport property. The arrested person must then be delivered into Garda custody.
While Aer Rianta said the relationship between the gardai and the airport police was good, it is understood that tensions have existed in the past. Gardai sought a name change for the airport police, claiming the word "police" confused people. They said this could lead to delays in dealing with cases, a charge Aer Rianta rejected, saying the airport police passed on all matters to the Garda.
The use of a blue light on airport police cars is another bone of contention, as it should be used only by gardai, ambulances and fire brigades. However, Ms Moore said the airport police weren't aware of any problem. While it is understood that the Attorney General has said it would be "advisable" for the airport police to change their name, his office would not comment on this.
The Dun Laoghaire Harbour Police are similarly confused with gardai. "Their high-visibility jackets are quite similar to the jackets worn by gardai," a harbour spokesman said. "People may confuse them, but they have harbour police written on their uniforms."
Dun Laoghaire harbour police are governed by the Harbours Act 1996 and the Laoghaire harbour by-laws, giving them powers to do things such as clamp cars, apprehend litter offenders or arrest people who are causing a disturbance.
The Dun Laoghaire Harbour bylaws list unusual offences. Cycling is permitted on the East Pier's lower level only from sunrise to 1 p.m. and speed should not exceed 10 miles an hour. It is forbidden to leave bicycles unattended within the harbour and to graze "any horse or other beast of burden" there.
"The major difference between these police and the gardai is that they do not have the power to bring people to court," a Garda Press Office spokesman said. "They can arrest people all right but then they have to hand them over to the guards. It's like the park rangers in Phoenix Park. People don't realise that they have real powers," he said.
