First garda reserves to join Force
The first batch of the new garda reserves will officially join the Force today.
Some 36 reservists will graduate at a full passing out ceremony at the garda college in Templemore in Co Tipperary.
Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell and Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy will preside over the event.
The first members of the new part-time force will be deployed to Garda stations around the country.
The reservists will act as support to full-time garda officers, whose representative associations have been opposed to the new recruits.
Mr McDowell and Commissioner Conroy will also launch a new training programme for senior gardaí after the ceremony.
The Garda Executive Leadership Programme was designed for officers at Chief Superintendent rank.
It will be run at the UCD Michael Smurfit School of Business, in conjunction with the garda college, with an international module at Harvard University in the US.
The course will lead to an Advanced Management Diploma in Police Leadership awarded by UCD.
