Gardaí set to up protest ante

Garda representative associations look set to up the ante in their fight against pay cuts following remarks made by the justice minister, who accused them of doing a disservice to their members by holding protests.

The fallout from Alan Shatter’s speech at the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) annual conference continued yesterday as representatives of Garda middle management said their members were extremely angry with what he said.

Assistant general secretary Joe Jacob said his members were upset with the tone of Mr Shatter’s speech on Monday night, which he described as “condescending and disingenuous”.