MIDDLE-RANKING gardaí want a social welfare fraud unit, modelled on the Criminal Assets Bureau, to be set up.

The general secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors has today called for the establishment of a special garda unit to tackle social welfare fraud.

THE association representing middle-ranking gardaí has adopted a policy calling for a permanent armed garda presence on the streets.

The thorny issue of pay looks set to dominate the final day of the annual conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) in Galway today.

JUSTICE MINISTER Dermot Ahern told gardaí yesterday pay cuts were “unavoidable” and everyone had to “face up to economic reality”.

Top gardaí called tonight for buildings coming under the control of NAMA to be reinvented as stations for their officers.

IN spite of the apparent determination among rank and file gardaí to push ahead with industrial action to protect their pay, the association which represents their seniors has said it will not be rushing to follow suit.

THE organisation representing rank-and-file gardaí has rowed back on its plans to ballot to strike over pay and conditions.

PUBLIC sector unions have said social partnership is dead and told their members to prepare themselves for strikes.

A THREATENED strike by gardaí would leave members open to criminal and civil prosecution, Justice Minister Dermot Ahern has warned.

GARDAÍ, nurses and other frontline public servants have warned trade union leaders that they must give no concessions on allowances, overtime and other premium payments in the latest round of pay talks with the Government.

TRADE unions and associations representing more than 100,000 public servants have reacted angrily to an alleged attempt to gag the military and prevent it from joining with an alliance fighting pay cuts proposed by the McCarthy report.

OVER 100,000 public servants providing frontline services in healthcare, security and emergency response will resist Government attempts to impose the cutbacks proposed in the McCarthy report.

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

THE Government faces a major battle with Garda associations following Bord Snip’s recommendations to axe Garda pay and allowances by at least €50 million a year and close half of the country’s stations.

Gardaí have welcomed new powers given to the DPP to oppose all bail decisions granted by district courts.

An Irish Interpol officer who led a worldwide hunt for a paedophile who videotaped himself abusing kids on the web will today be honoured by senior gardaí.

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors says morale in the force is at an all-time low due to the public-sector pension levy and other measures being introduced by the Government.

Garda sergeants and inspectors are vowing to resist any further cutbacks to policing.

Senior gardaí will use their annual conference today to fight any further government cuts in their pay or pensions.

GARDA representatives yesterday welcomed government plans to allow gardaí use evidence obtained by surveillance in court cases.

THE Garda commissioner is to press ahead with plans for armed regional support units despite strong opposition from middle-ranking gardaí.

REGIONAL Garda firearm squads are to be set up despite the reservations of lower and middle-ranking gardaí.

THE main Garda associations yesterday expressed concern at the establishment of new armed Garda response units, set up to combat rising gun crime across the country.

SENIOR Garda officers yesterday vowed to fight proposals to fast-track promotions through its ranks.

Senior Garda officers today vowed to fight proposals to fast-track promotions through its ranks.

MIDDLE-RANKING gardaí yesterday backed Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s controversial crime bill.

SENIOR gardaí have urged immediate action on the recommendations of the Garda Inspectorate that members of the force be better equipped and trained to deal with incidents involving firearms.

SENIOR gardaí yesterday demanded the functions of the Special Criminal Court are extended to tackle “extreme gangland crime”.

JUSTICE MINISTER Michael McDowell yesterday claimed victory in the first battle over the implementation of the Garda Reserve.

Garda unions expressed regret at the death of John Carthy and called for improvements in training recommended by the Barr Tribunal report to be acted on immediately.

Rank-and-file gardaí joined senior officers today to wish the new head of the Garda Siochana Inspectorate success in the role.

GARDA sergeants and inspectors last night renewed their attack on Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s plan for a reserve force.

Gardaí today demanded more firearms training to deal with the increase in gun crime.

AN Garda Síochána faces industrial strife after a staff association yesterday voted - by a narrow margin - against cooperating with the garda reserve.

There is an appalling scarcity of civilian support staff for the Gardaí, a conference heard today.

JUSTICE MINISTER Michael McDowell last night warned the garda associations of a public backlash against them if they are seen to scupper the Garda Reserve.

GARDA representative bodies have welcomed proposals by Justice Minister Michael McDowell to change the rules under which suspects are interviewed in custody but insist they remain opposed to his plans to introduce a Garda reserve force.

Joe Dirwan, the current president of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), has been appointed the new general secretary of the association.

Senior gardaí will become baby-sitters for hundreds of volunteers if the planned Reserve goes ahead, it was claimed tonight.

EXPERIENCED gardaí would have to keep one eye on rioters and another on reservists if Minister for Justice Michael McDowell pushes through plans to create a back-up force, it was claimed last night.

Gardaí tonight said no other profession would tolerate the “mad hatter scheme” for a volunteer reserve.

RECORD profits of €1.7 billion last year were not enough for AIB. They want more. Unlike Oliver, they are not on the breadline, being the country’s biggest bank with a 23% increase in profits for the past 12 months.