Despite the recent announcement by Justice Minster Michael McDowell of the "first major piece of legislative reform of the Garda Síochána since the foundation of the State" there is still no sign of the dedicated Garda traffic corps mooted by Transport Minister Seamus Brennan. Barry McCall reports.
Mr Brennan has called for the establishment of such a traffic corps on a number of occasions since taking up office last summer. Road safety has been cited as the primary reason for the creation of the corps. It is envisaged that the corps would be separate from existing Garda divisions and would concentrate purely on traffic issues.
In theory, this would facilitate greater enforcement of the Road Traffic Acts as well as freeing up Garda time for other areas of crime fighting. The principle is well established in other countries, most notably the US and Canada, where highway patrols concern themselves mainly with traffic offences. They are under the overall control of the police commissioners in their areas but operate as quasi-autonomous divisions with their own support services and so on.
In Britain and Europe the concept of motorway and highway police divisions is also well established. Police reservists can also be used for traffic duties in France and some other European countries. This is not usually in the motorway or highway forces, but more commonly in urban areas during times when the main force is under pressure.
Reservists can be called up for traffic or other duties in towns in order to free up full-time officers for other duties.
In this context Mr McDowell's proposal of a Garda Reserve may have implications for traffic policing. However, as a Department of Justice spokesperson points out: "The proposal relating to the Garda Reserve is a purely enabling provision. The Government has not yet decided to create such a body. Minister McDowell has already given a commitment to the Garda Representative Associations that the matter will not be proceeded with in the absence of consultation."
The only specific provision in Minister McDowell's proposals, aimed at freeing up mainstream Garda time, is to do with security arrangements at Government buildings and offices. So, while the Garda Siochána is subject to major legislative reform it appears that traffic, as usual, will have to wait.