Garda Association to ballot members on strike action

The Garda Representative Association is to ballot its members for industrial action.

The group, which represents over 11,000 rank-and-file gardaí across the country, is holding a press conference this morning to outline its plans.

Gardaí are barred by law from striking, so this action will put them in direct conflict with the Department of Justice.

Up until now, the GRA has insisted it would not partake in industrial action like they did when the "blue flu" hit in 1998.

Meanwhile, the public services committee of the Congress of Trade Unions will meet later.

It follows the collapse in negotiations with the Government on how to cut €1.3bn from the public sector pay bill.