Intense talks bid to avert Garda strikes

Crunch talks to avert a policing crisis continue today, and possibly over the weekend, as the first day of garda industrial action begins this morning.

Talks between the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors and Department of Justice officials lasted for almost three hours yesterday and continue today.

In what was seen as a confidence-building measure, AGSI leaders agreed to tweak their action today and allow a number of custody sergeants in stations to use the Garda Pulse system to process prisoners being brought in for questioning or being taken to court.