AGSI conference: The Garda Commissioner, Mr Noel Conroy, has strongly criticised a recent RTE Prime Time programme on the Gardaí, describing it as "unbalanced and biased".
The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, has also criticised the programme as "imbalanced". A spokesman said the Minister had terminated his interview with the programme after just two minutes when it became apparent he was to be "grilled" on specific incidents, some many years old, about which he had no prior warning.
He had believed he was to be asked about the new Garda Bill, the heads of which had just been published at the time.
In a statement last night RTÉ said: "Prime Time emphatically rejects the commissioner's comments and stands over the programme".
Speaking at the annual conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors in Cork, Mr Conroy said he was determined to get on with the job of managing an effective and respected force rather than become engaged in public debate with RTÉ.
"I, as Commissioner, have no intention of personally responding to such programme as some commentators would like me to," he said. On Monday AGSI president, Mr Joe Dirwan, complained that Mr Conroy had not come to the defence of the force in relation to the programme.
Mr Conroy added: "I firmly believe that if we as an organisation work the work, and not talk the talk, the people of this country will see for themselves that we care and will continue to give us their excellent support for policing this wonderful country".
The RTÉ statement said: "We understand that at its meeting at the end of March the Broadcasting Complaints Commission, a fully independent and statutory body, rejected a similar complaint [to Mr Conroy's] by the Garda Representative Association, meaning that the commission has upheld the fairness, impartiality and objectivity of the programme".
Mr Conroy said the force would be severely tested during upcoming anti-globalisation and anti-US protests, which are expected to take place in Dublin on May Day and at the EU-US June summit.
In relation to May Day, gardaí have identified a period, between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. on May 1st, which they believe will attract most trouble. A major summit of heads of State from existing and accession EU States will take place at Farmleigh at that time. While the Phoenix Park will be closed, international protesters are expected to congregate at Parkgate Street.
Mr Conroy said while guidance on the enforcement of the smoking ban had not been sent out until very late, he would make sure this did not happen again.
Earlier, Mr Dirwan told conference delegates the guidelines had not reached garda stations until April 3rd, a delay which caused "utter confusion" among gardaí as their role in enforcing the ban.
In response to complaints made by Mr Dirwan on resources in the force, the commissioner said it was incumbent on him to efficiently manage whatever resources were sanctioned by the Government.
He said the fight against domestic terrorist activity and against increasingly sophisticated international and Irish organised crime gangs continued.
The spread of the cocaine problem to all parts of the country was of particular concern. Public order issues such as events witnessed on St Patrick's Day also needed to be constantly addressed as did road safety and property related crime.