The Irish Section of the International Police Association (IPA) is holding its annual conference at Ennistymon in County Clare this weekend.Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy and police officers from Luxembourg, Poland, USA and Great Britain are among the delegates attending the two-day event. The IPA is a non-political and non-sectarian organisation that promotes social, cultural and professional exchanges between its member sections. The international organisation comprises 361,000 serving and retired policemen from over 60 countries making it the largest police organisation in the world. The Irish Section represents over 11,000 serving and retired members of An Garda Síochana.
Retired Garda Sergeant and President of the Irish Section of the IPA, Billy Saunderson said that the conference presented members with the opportunity to discuss matters of mutual personal and professional concern. Mr. Saunderson, who served as a Garda in Ennistymon, added, “There are many benefits for retired and serving members of An Garda Síochana in joining the organisation. For example, members are provided with immediate support at times of crisis while at home or abroad, the children of members engage in international cultural gatherings and exchanges, and members engage in fundraising for local and community causes.”
Mayor of Clare Councillor Madeleine Taylor Quinn launched the IPA conference today. Addressing delegates, the Mayor spoke about he importance of the police force to the community, the provision of security to the citizens and the recruitment of non-nationals into An Garda Síochana. “Democracy is based on the strength of the security of our citizens”, commented Mayor Taylor Quinn.
She continued, “An Garda Síochana and police forces across the world provide a sterling service. Each and every one of us has an obligation to fully support and assist them in the course of their work. The public and Gardaí (police) are interdependent. We are secure because of their presence and they can only be as effective as the public enable them to be. The cooperation of the public relating to crime is essential for crime detection and prevention. We cannot afford to remove ourselves when we have knowledge or sightings of acts or behaviour that could be helpful to police investigations.”
“As we celebrate this week the 60th anniversary of the declaration of the Irish Republic by the then Taoiseach John A. Costello, which was the final step in establishing Irish independence from Great Britain, one cannot but reflect and wonder whether the Republic of 2009 is the one envisaged by our forefathers. We have exchanged freedom from foreign rule for most of our country, and our citizens enjoy freedom from arbitrary arrest, but freedom is much more than freedom from the abuse of tyranny. Until we are free and independent of organised gangland crime and the scourge of drugs across this country we will not be truly free and independent”, added the Mayor.
Councillor Taylor Quinn noted that the publication of the new Criminal Justice Surveillance Bill would provide much needed assistance to An Garda Síochana in bringing criminals to justice. She expressed her hope that the new Bill would quickly become law and be fully implemented. Commenting on the work of the International Police Association, Mayor Taylor Quinn said, “The IPA must be lauded for the work carried out by its member sections at local, national and international level. The building of transnational relationships between current and retired members of police forces across the world greatly assists and enhances the work of Interpol and other international police organisations. It also serves to assist the members’ understanding of other cultures, traditions and police practices in the many nations represented.”
“Support and backing from fellow police officers in good and bad times plays an integral role in the success and ethos of the IPA. I salute its members for their generosity of spirit, kinship and goodwill towards each other. Their work is always challenging and often dangerous, but it is greatly appreciated and regarded by members of the public”, she concluded.
