The Gazette 1985

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INCORPORATED LAW SOCIETY OF IRELAND GAZETTE
Vol. No. 79 No.6 July/August 1985
In this issue . . .
Dáil Debates — Legal Profession 202
Crossword 212
How do we clamp down on the problem
of Company Fraud? 213
Executive Editor:
Editorial Board:
Advertising:
Printing:
Mary Buckley
William Earley, Chairman
John F. Buckley
Gary Byrne
Geraldine Clarke
Charles R. M. Meredith
Michael V. O'Mahony
Maxwell Sweeney
Liam O hOisin, Telephone 305236
Turner's Printing Co. Ltd., Longford
The views expressed in this publication, save where other-
wise indicated, are the views of the contributors and not
necessarily the views of the Council of the Society.
The appearance of an advertisement in this publication
does not necessarily indicate approval by the Society for
the product or service advertised.
Published at Blackhall Place, Dublin 7.
Comment
Garda Training
IN recent years, the Garda Siochana have been the
subject of much criticism, the majority of it probably
ill-justified. It is undeniable, though, that there has been a
decline in morale in the Force, which may, in part at least,
be attributable to shortcomings in training. Doubts as to
the efficacy of the Force led to the appointment by the
Commissioner of a Committee on Garda Training and to
a report by the Dáil Select Committee on Crime, Lawless-
ness and Vandalism.
The Select Committee, in its deliberations, does not
appear to have had the benefit of much input from outside
sources. Happily, the Committee on Garda Training has
received a large number of submissions from a wide range
of community interests.
The Law Society, representing a profession many of
whose members have an unequalled opportunity of
observing the operations of the Gardai on a day to day
basis, has made a submission to the Committee. The first
recommendation is for a stream-lining of the present
unwieldy inefficient selection process and a restructuring
of the civil service-dominated selection boards. In
particular, psychological testing should be introduced at
an early stage in the selection process in order to weed out
those who are temperamentally unsuited to service in a
police force.
The principal recommendations of the Society
concentrate on the improvement of the "sandwich-type"
training programme for recruits. The initial training at
Templemore, although well administered by a dedicated
staff, is too short to achieve the necessary aims. Its brevity
leads to an undesirable reliance on the lecture method;
devoting more time to the course would enable policing
skills and community relations aspects of the course to be
covered more satisfactorily, in addition to the necessary
knowledge of the law.
The in-service segment of the training course would
seem to be most in need of improvement; this must be seen
as true training, with a structured programme under the
direction of a training officer in each division. The trainee
must be seen as a trainee and not as part of the ordinary
strength of the division.
Full attendance at the third segment of the course,
which has not apparently been mandatory heretofore, is
essential. It is in this part of the course that the experience
which the trainee has gained during the in-service segment
of training can be used to enhance his further training.
Continuing education or training has become a
standard practice in many walks of life. The Society has
recommended that there should be continuing refresher
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