A NEW system to remove the "political element" from senior Garda promotions has been called for by the middle-management ranks of the force.
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors said the Government's power to approve all promotions from the position of inspector up meant there was "inevitably a political element in the promotion of these officers".
The AGSI said the establishment of a police authority or a promotions authority could end the political aspects of rising through the ranks, which have "a corrosive effect on promotion and on general relationships within the job.
A police authority could also act as liaison between the force and other state agencies, and it should be "widely based, reflecting strong community interests", including the trade union movement.
The proposal is contained in a wide-ranging submission by the AGSI to the Government-appointed group reviewing the force, chaired by the industrialist, Mr Tony Barry.
The AGSI document, published yesterday, ranges from examination of the role of the Commissioner to demands that every police station have a fax, a computer and a patrol car.
AGSI supports the conclusions of the Conroy Commission that the Garda budget should be controlled by the force, rather than by the Department of Justice. It also calls for Mr Barry's review group to advocate that the Garda be designated the "lead agency" in any joint operations with other agencies, for example the Customs.
"The gardai should clearly and unequivocally be in charge. Any lesser role causes confusion and dissipates authority and command," it says.
The AGSI document acknowledges the difficulties faced by the force in coping with the drugs crisis, although it lays the blame on "those with whom responsibility for the allocation of resources lies".
It says local gardai working "on the ground" have been "hampered by a lack of resources". It wants the size of the force to be increased and the retirement age of garda, sergeant and inspector ranks to be raised from 57 to 60 years.
In addition, the AGSI urges new legislation to cope with new forms of crime. " A determined attempt must be made to keep legislation in pace with developments in criminal methods," it says. "Legislation to deal with new technology, computer and telecommunications fraud must be introduced with all possible speed.
"Archaic wording in existing legislation should be removed and replaced with easily understandable text."