The introduction of reinforced patrol cars and the expansion of the fleet of public-order personnel carriers are being considered, the Garda Commissioner said yesterday. They are seen as ways of protecting gardaí in their duties.
Mr Byrne was attending the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors annual conference in Limerick, where he was the guest speaker yesterday.
He said public-order personnel carriers were in use in a number of divisions at the moment, and there had been favourable feedback from gardaí using them.
The vehicles had holding units where prisoners could be placed while allowing the arresting garda to return to the scene. The prisoner could not interfere with the driver or other personnel.
Public-order incidents were now a societal issue similar to the drugs problem when it originally arose in the 1970s. The call was for more resources to be deployed to the Garda, but this only addressed one aspect of the problem.
There were wider issues of anti-social behaviour, attitudes towards authority, and the taking of personal responsibility and collective responsibility.
He added that a lot of patrol cars were written off every year after being rammed or being in accidents. Patrol cars were in use in the US which had a reinforced chassis and body.
The PULSE centralised computer system, whose gradual introduction had been "accompanied with some pain", was now increasing in momentum.
Asked about a newspaper report which suggested that £26 million was paid to Accenture consultants over four years, he said he was not sure that was correct.
PULSE was one of the biggest police force computer systems worldwide and was expensive, but costs were monitored monthly. In time it would be extended to all 703 Garda stations in the State.
He added that the security of premises was also being examined in the light of a number of incidents, including the death of a garda, Sgt Andrew Callanan, after he was attacked at Tallaght Garda station three years ago.
Closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) and panic buttons were measures which would not turn stations into fortresses but would preserve the ethos of the Garda as a community police force, he said.
He welcomed the extension of CCTV systems on streets in towns and cities around the State, saying it was of tremendous assistance.
"I have no doubt in years to come CCTV will be the norm," he said.
Asked about last week's Paul Ward verdict, he said the Garda respected the decision of the courts. The verdict did not affect the Witness Security Programme, he added. Ward's appeal against his conviction for the murder of Veronica Guerin was upheld last week.
He confirmed that legislation on the regulation of mobile phones used by motorists had been referred to the Attorney General's office for clarification. "We often ask the law officers for their views in terms of any questions we may have or any clarifications that may be required," he said.