Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said today he was "determined" to proceed with a Garda Reserve and appealed to Garda representatives to co-operate.
Speaking at the Garda graduation ceremony in Templemore today, Mr McDowell said the plan would help make the State a "safer" and "fairer" place.
"The Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides for the establishment of a Garda Reserve and I am determined to proceed with this proposal", Mr McDowell said.
"I have asked the Garda Commissioner to submit proposals to me on the recruitment, training and composition of a Garda Reserve, and I expect to receive his proposals very shortly," he added.
Talks between Garda sergeants and inspectors and the Minister on the issue broke up on Tuesday without resolution.
Members of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) are to be given the chance to dictate the association's policy towards the reserve force when it holds its annual conference in Tralee, Co Kerry, in March.
Many delegates are expected to call for sergeants and inspectors to refuse to co-operate with the reservists. Those calls are expected to be echoed at the annual conference of the Garda Representative Association a fortnight later in Galway city.
AGSI president Joe Dirwan said after Tuesday's meeting that his association was objecting to the very idea of a reserve force rather than opposing details of the plan.
"We feel that it will destroy morale within the uniform section of An Garda Síochána. We don't see any need for it. We asked the Minister to resource more fully the existing force. We object in principle to the creation of a second tier police force."
Mr McDowell said today the main function of the Garda Reserve would be to support and assist the Garda "I appeal to the Garda associations to work constructively in consultation with the commissioner and my Department. I believe we can work together to make the Garda Reserve into the successful additional resource which it can be.
"This support could take the form of assistance in station duties, communications and traffic duties. Perhaps the greatest potential for the Reserve is to assist in providing a more visible police presence in the community.
He said he was aware of the concerns regarding the arrest powers of new recruits to any reserve force. "On that point, let me say this: Reserve members will be fully trained to exercise the functions and responsibilities assigned to them. The range of duties and powers to be exercised by members of the Reserve will be directed by the commissioner."
