GRA conference invite to Justice Minister 'would hardly be plausible'

The Garda Representative Association is to consider the unprecedented move of not inviting the Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan, to its annual conference.

The rank-and-file Garda union has already confirmed that the Justice Minister Alan Shatter will not be invited to attend the event in April.

Around 30 members of the GRA are staging a protest outside Government Buildings today, as part of their opposition to the new public sector pay deal.

PJ Stone, the GRA General Secretary, said a decision will be taken next week on whether or not to invite Mr Callinan to the meeting in Mayo.

Mr Stone said: "It would hardly be plausible to invite a minister that an executive has decided they have no confidence in.

"We have not made a decision yet in respect of the commissioner and we will be making a decision in the coming days.

"There is an issue from the members on the ground who are very angry and very agitated."