The association which represents the country’s rank-and-file gardaí has warned the Government that if it carries out its threat to cut its members’ wages it will retaliate by pursuing breaches of the EU working time directive in the courts.

When the very brief discussions — 30 minutes — between Government and unions around a renewed Croke Park deal ended yesterday union leaders expressed dismay and suggested that what they termed as “radical” proposals from Government would not be accepted by their members.