Paschal Donohoe fails to rule out soldiers on streets if Garda dispute unresolved

Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe has failed to rule out the possibility of soldiers being placed on Irish streets if the planned all-out Garda strike takes place this Friday.

He declined to say that the Army will not be called in, but stressed the Government is putting “all of our efforts” into ensuring its still- unpublished contingency plans are not needed.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio as Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) officials met yesterday for crisis talks with counterparts from the Department of Justice and the Department of Public Expenditure, Mr Donohoe said the Government is still trying to resolve the pay dispute.