Justice Minister set for frosty reception at Garda conference

This year's annual conference of middle-ranking gardaí is getting underway in Sligo today, with pay and budget cuts top of the agenda.

More than a third of the 27 motions at the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors' three-day meeting relate to the revised Croke Park deal.

There will also be calls for the Garda Inspectorate to carry out a cost-benefit analysis of the decision to close some Garda Stations.

AGSI General Secretary John Redmond said that Justice Minister Alan Shatter can expect to receive a cool reception from delegates this evening.

"It wouldn't be the first time that a Minister was met by either silence or empty chairs," he said.

"I don't know exactly what delegates are going to do. I do think that they're going to make sure that the Minister gets the message.

"He doesn't seem to have listened to our message so far."

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Enda Kenny was challenged by a then off-duty Garda on the campaign trail in Meath this afternoon.

The Garda, who did not wish to be named, told Deputy Kenny that cutting the premium pay of front-line workers like him was wrong.