POLICING in Ireland will go back to the Dark Ages if the Government adopts a recommendation to centralise gardaí in district headquarters, a garda leader will tell his organisation’s annual seminar today.

The European Union has imposed a €222.3m fine on Europe’s main makers of copper plumbing pipes for price fixing and dividing up the market.

An Oireachtas committee should be set up to monitor the Gardaí and ensure the recommendations laid out in the hard-hitting Morris Report are followed, it was claimed tonight.

I BELIEVE Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte was correct recently to raise concerns about the possible closure of rural garda stations.

JUSTICE MINISTER Michael McDowell’s plans to free up gardaí and put them back on the beat are “nonsense” because of the public service hiring freeze, garda representatives said yesterday.

GARDAÍ are expected to demand pay rises as part of any agreement to implement the proposed overhaul of the force.