Gardaí want armed officers on the streets

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors wants a group of armed gardaí on our streets, to cope with the increasing violence in society.

Middle ranking officers want gardaí attached to the regional supports units to be armed on a full-time basis instead of on a reactive basis.

It is one of 61 motions up for discussion at the organisation's annual conference which gets underway in Galway this evening.

Pay cuts and pensions look set to dominate this year's annual AGSI conference.

Middle ranking officers say further interference with garda pay and conditions will be "vigorously rejected".

Delegates will also call on the Government to make clear the position on pensions and gratuity.

The AGSI claim the lack of information is forcing many members to retire for fear their payments will be cut.

They are set to call for officers attached to the regional support units to be armed on a full-time basis.

Currently, gardaí patrol as regular uniformed officers, but if they're called on to respond to an armed or hostage situation, then they change into tacital dress and have access to firearms stored in their patrol cars.

But officers in Cork West, Westmeath, Meath, Galway and Kildare want officers to be armed all the time to cope with the increase in violence in our society.

The Justice Minister Dermot Ahern will address the delegates at the conference this evening while tomorrow, they will hear from the Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy.