The Garda Representative Association (GRA) is to stage road shows around the country to encourage rank and file members to oppose plans by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell for a Garda reserve force
The GRA, which has 10,000 members and is the biggest representative association within the force, is to begin its road shows in Sligo at the end of next month.
Further meetings in Cork, Portlaoise and Dublin are planned in March to try to convince all members of garda rank that they should oppose the plans.
The association also intends holding a rally in Dublin, probably at Liberty Hall, at the end of March to demonstrate to the Government the depth of opposition to plans for the reserve force.
Gardaí will be told at the GRA meetings that, if the Government persists with its plan, gardaí can seriously disrupt the scheme by refusing to work with reserve members.
"This plan cannot go ahead without the co-operation of our members," GRA general secretary PJ Stone told The Irish Times last night.
"The feedback that I have been getting is that our members are very angry about what they believe is an attempt to downgrade the work that we do and to get policing on the cheap."
