The State’s expert Garda reform agency says the restructuring announced by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris is a “significant step” towards better policing.

Local Garda bosses say threats from dissidents to murder people who talk to the police must be met “head-on” and warned that the paramilitaries must not be allowed “take control”.

Speaking against the background of violent criminal feuds in Drogheda, Co Louth, and Corduff and Finglas in west Dublin, the country’s superintendents said the drugs trade had “permeated” towns and villages nationwide.

The lack of 24-hour garda stations in counties targeted by ATM robberies is concerning to senior officers.

One in five superintendents are being investigated by the garda ombudsman (GSOC), with many of the inquiries taking up to five years to complete.

Frontline Garda bosses believe that Brexit will result in a “massive draw” on resources back to the border, with major implications for Garda divisions and national units.

A Government-backed blueprint for Garda reform is on hold after local garda management launched their first ever industrial action.

Here's your lunchtime news bulletin.

THERE is hardly an organisation in the country under closer scrutiny than An Garda Síochána. 

Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan said the force has been “devastated” by government austerity measures and was “20 years behind” in many areas, particularly in technology.

Senior gardaí have said that an additional 200 to 300 garda recruits are needed every year on top of the commitment to take on 600 officers annually.

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

Former government minister Des O’Malley has said he would sue Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald if she made allegations about him having an offshore Ansbacher account outside the Dáil chamber.

Senior gardaí have asked the chairman of the Dáil to stop TDs from making "adverse" comments and "damaging allegations" in the chamber about members of the force.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has said he has confidence in all of his staff ahead of the Commission of Investigation into the Garda tapes.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has put on hold plans to restart Garda recruitment following the rejection of Croke Park II by unions.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter will delay hiring more gardaí following the rejection of Croke Park 2.

The General Secretary of the Association of Garda Superintendents is warning that the strength of the force is now at a critically low level.

Members of the Defence Forces have defended the hiring of 500 new recruits during a Garda staffing freeze.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has warned rank-and-file garda leaders against damaging relations with the Army in a row over recruits.

Senior gardaí are calling for vacant posts to be filled to avoid "serious gaps" in service delivery.

IT is certainly regrettable that members of An Garda Síochána should have made such degrading and threatening remarks to the two female protesters who were arrested while interfering with the development of the Corrib gas pipeline.

THREE garda staff associations have said the behaviour of three gardaí under investigation for allegedly making jokes about raping women was not indicative of the attitude of the force.

Several Garda districts are without key senior officers because of a recruitment freeze, representatives have warned.

Gardaí found guilty of any wrongdoing in an alleged rape remarks controversy face the gravest of consequences, rank-and-file leaders have warned.

DISSIDENT Republicans pose a “real threat” to police forces and innocent bystanders, according to Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy.

JUSTICE Minister Dermot Ahern said there had to be “tighter controls” over access to information about jury members to ensure it didn’t fall into the hands of criminals.

GARDA bosses want controversial gangland legislation to be expanded so that other serious crimes can be heard in the non-jury Special Criminal Court.

The Garda Commissioner says he supports any moves which would allow people to serve on juries without recrimination.

THREE more senior gardaí are due to leave the force early – including the superintendent at one of Dublin’s most high profile stations.

GARDA retirements are running at twice the projected rate, new figures suggest.

ALMOST 45 gardaí have retired early every month so far this year, according to new figures.

THE Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) yesterday hit back at complaints by senior gardaí that they had to investigate up to half of its cases.

GARDA Commissioner Fachtna Murphy yesterday told superintendents he was in discussions with the Department of Justice to ensure vacancies in their rank were filled as quickly as possible.

SENIOR gardaí are warning it will be “extremely difficult” to manage the force if the upsurge in retirements of superintendents continues.

THE Garda Síochána is facing a growing management crisis with 12 superintendents due to take voluntary retirement this year and up to 100 others eligible for retirement.

JUSTICE Minister Brian Lenihan last night insisted there was no question of Garda overtime being reduced for operations to tackle gangland crime.

JUSTICE Minister Brian Lenihan said there would be no cut in policing, despite warnings by Garda bosses that the overtime budget is due to run out by August.

THE Garda overtime budget is due to run out in August and the Government has ruled out allocating any more money, a Garda conference was told yesterday.

GARDA chief Noel Conroy yesterday warned officers they faced arrest if they did not co-operate with the garda ombudsman.

THE head of the Garda Inspectorate yesterday said superintendents had an “unacceptable” amount of bureaucracy to deal with.