Delegates at the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) conference in Killarney have voted against co-operating with plans for a proposed Garda Reserve.
AGSI had appealed for strong support for its policy of non-co-operation to strengthen its hand in negotiations with Minister for Justice Michael McDowell.
Mr McDowell is planning to begin recruitment for the volunteer force in the coming months.
But at its annual conference in Killarney, members voted by a slim 55 per cent majority (71 votes to 58) to approve the non-cooperation policy. There had been complaints from delegates opposed to the motion that the association's national executive had not explained how a policy of non-co-operation would work.
There was overwhelming support for the two less controversial motions on the reserve, which called on Mr McDowell to withdraw the proposal due to a lack of resources and due to the lack of training facilities and risk to health and safety.
During the two-hour debate on the motions, AGSI general secretary Joe Dirwan said the proportion of civilians employed in An Garda Síochaná was only 10 per cent, compared to 25 to 40 per cent in other countries. Other delegates expressed doubts about the calibre of people who would join the reserve.
"An allied theme to the general lack of resource is the appalling scarcity of civilian support staff. The Garda Commissioner has sought 1,000 additional civilian support staff from the Justice Minister. Now it would suit the Minister far better to provide those 1,000 than his cosmetic proposal for a reserve," he said.
Mr Dirwan told the conference these civilians would be able to do real work and would free up over 400 full time gardaí for duty on the streets. There are 1,800 civilians working with the force, including a group at the Garda information service centre in Castlebar who directly input information into the Pulse system on behalf of gardaí.
Sergeant Eddie Murphy from the Dublin South Central Division said it would attract a mixed grill of do-gooders and messianic zealots. He said delegates should be strongly opposed to allowing in "Playstation cops".
"It is sabotage. It's a thundering disgrace," he said.
The vote for non-co-operation is a blow to Mr McDowell, who had warned the AGSI they would be breaking the law if they fail to comply with the reserve voted through in the Criminal Justice Bill.
But if the Garda Representative Association also votes not to co-operate with the Reserve at its conference next month, it will make a volunteer force almost impossible.