Pay and protest to dominate Garda talks

PAY, pensions and protest action will dominate much of the annual conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) in Galway over the next three days.

As intensive weekend talks between Garda representatives and the Government dragged late into last night, middle-ranking gardaí will today begin examining how they can ratchet up their dispute with Government.

Garda associations at all ranks are furious at a triple whammy of pay cuts, pension levies and increased workload resulting from the moratorium on recruitment and promotions in the public service. Concern over these issues are reflected in the high number of motions to do with pay and pensions. Some 12 such motions have been lodged compared to two or three motions in most years.