Gardaí concerned that Obama, Queen visits will blow budget

The Garda Representative Association has said it is concerned that most of the Garda's annual budget will be spent on the visits of President Obama and Queen Elizabeth next month.

All Garda leave has been cancelled next month during the visits, which are expected to cost millions of euro in Garda overtime.

The president of the Garda Representative Association is expected to discuss the issue with garda Commissioner Martin Callinan today.

Commissioner Callinan will address the annual conference of the GRA in Westport, Co Mayo.

Garda numbers are expected to dominate the agenda over the next two days, with rank and file gardaí claiming the force cannot cope with a further reduction in numbers.

Garda Robbie Peelo, based at the border garda station in Dromad, Co Louth, said there had been "no let-up" in the threat from dissident republicans, especially along the border.