Garda sergeants and inspectors have narrowly voted in favour of non-co-operation with the Garda Reserve but were forced to rely on the votes of their representative association's national executive to pass the measure.
The vote will be interpreted by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell as a sign that opposition to the reserve force may not be as strong among members of An Garda Síochána as it is with senior officials in the Garda representative bodies.
Some delegates at the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) annual conference in Killarney, Co Kerry, yesterday told the conference they had no difficulty with Mr McDowell's proposals to introduce a reserve force.
There were also a number of calls for the disclosure of specific details on the policy of non-co-operation mooted by AGSI leaders and their counterparts in the Garda Representative Association (GRA).
When a motion tabled by the Wexford-Wicklow division call- ing for a policy of non-co-operation with the reserve force was put to a vote it was passed by 71 votes to 58, a margin of 13. However, the 13 members of the national executive voted in favour, meaning delegates were split in half on the issue, 58-58.
Yesterday's vote represented the first measure of the level of opposition within the force to the reserves. However, it is expected that opposition within the GRA will be stronger when it holds its annual conference in Galway city next month.
AGSI general secretary Joe Dirwan told the conference that solidarity within the organisation was "especially vital" at this stage.
Sgt John Jacob, representing Garda headquarters, said delegates should not have been asked to vote on a plan the details of which had been disclosed. Sgt Dermot Keyes, representing Dublin North Central, said many of his members were not as concerned with the Garda Reserve as the national executive was. However, his members were concerned about what the details of the non-co-operation plan were. If it amounted to industrial action "should it not be debated?".
Many other delegates said they were totally opposed to the reserve plan. Insp Eddie Murphy from Dublin South Central referred to reserves as "PlayStation cops".
Sgt Diarmuid O'Shea, Kerry, branded them "hobby bobbies". Some described Mr McDowell as a "bully" and branded the reserve force an "election stunt".
AGSI president Paschal Feeney urged delegates to trust the association's leadership. He said specific details of the non-co-operation plan should not be disclosed because Mr McDowell was anxious to learn what the plan was so he could "thwart" it.
However, he told delegates that the policy of non-co-operation would apply in three key areas, namely accommodation, communications and transport.
Addressing the Garda Commissioner, Noel Conroy, last night Mr Feeney said the reserve had been "the most morale shattering measure" he could recall.
"Even at this late stage it is not too late and I ask you on behalf of our members to walk away from it and to defend the professional, full-time force," he told Mr Conroy.
Mr Dirwan told delegates that the reserve force plan would further undermine the uniform division of An Garda Síochána, which had already "been consistently devalued by senior Garda management". The reserve force "has the potential to be the most divisive thing to hit communities since the Civil War".
Mr McDowell should recruit 1,000 civilian support staff. This would enable 400 gardaí to be released from non-core duties to front-line policing and the reserve would not be needed.