Stone: Ahern should have come to conference

The General Secretary of the Garda Representative Association is defending the president of the GRA's intended speech at the body's annual conference, the content of which led to Justice Minister Dermot Ahern withdrawing from a scheduled appearance at the gathering.

Michael O' Boyce, the outgoing President of the GRA, was due to address the conference in Limerick last night.

But due to the contents and allegations contained in the speech, the Minister said it was impossible for him to attend.

In the speech text, Mr O' Boyce lashed out at the Government, accusing it of "national sabotage" and of being "corrupted by years of power".

General Secretary of the GRA PJ Stone said the Minister should have nonetheless have come to the conference.

"The Minister was in possession of that address since last Friday," Mr Stone said.

"He would have been given the opportunity to come to this forum to address any issues which he would have wanted to address."

Mr Stone described Mr O'Boyce's intended address as a "hard-hitting" speech which set out the "hurt, pain, disillusionment and anger" of rank and file gardaí.

Meanwhile gardaí are demanding that they have a place at the pay talks table so they can negotiate directly with their employer.

There is growing concern about the financial diffulties facing many members, particularly younger members, who have faced pay cuts and levies in recent months.

Rank and file officers are using their annual conference to call on the Government to reverse these cuts.