Abolish Garda age limit, says TD
The age limit to join the gardaí should be abolished to create a more experienced force, a Fianna Fáil TD said today.
Jim Glennon said there was an urgent need to review the ban on recruiting people above 26 years of age, following the interim report of the Morris Tribunal.
“The difficulties that are manifesting themselves in the Morris Tribunal are probably institutional. You have fellows going into the force in their early 20s and they see the way it’s done. I don’t know if more experienced people would accept it (bad practice) so readily,” he said.
The Morris Tribunal found Garda members orchestrated the planting of ammunition and hoax explosives in Co Donegal and that senior Garda management were guilty of gross negligence.
Dublin North TD Mr Glennon said it was time for more reforms, including the abolition of the "discriminatory and wholly unnecessary" age limit.
“The age limit was drawn up when there was limited mobility in the workforce. But things have changed and it doesn’t make sense any more.”
Several years ago, a 30-year-old man in his constituency was anxious to join the force but had to sign up with the British police. Mr Glennon said the upper age limit was depriving the gardaí of high calibre recruits.
Mr Glennon added that the Police Service of Northern Ireland recruited people aged between 18 and 52 years.
The most recent recruitment drive for the 11,700 strong Garda force took place last year. Recruits were required to have a D grade or better in five ordinary level Leaving Certificate subjects and to pass a series of aptitude tests.
The height requirement, which was 5’ 9” for men and 5’ 4” for women, was abolished in 2001 and replaced with a physical fitness test.
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) said it had no objection to the abolition of the upper age limit. But general secretary PJ Stone said it could lead to difficulties with pensions.
