Gardaí to discuss Croke Park deal at annual conference

Around 170 rank and file Gardaí will gather in Co Mayo today for the Garda Representative Association's annual conference.

Much of the three-day conference will be spent discussing the Croke Park 2 agreement and the exclusion of Gardaí from the pay talks.

The GRA has made no secret of its dissatisfaction with the Government and in an unprecedented move, the association has refused to invite Minister for Justice Shatter to its 35th annual conference in Westport.

General Secretary PJ Stone said officers are not dissimilar to the judiciary, but whilst judges are dealt with separately from other public servants, Gardaí are left isolated from the industrial relations mechanisms of the State.

A number of motions will be dealt with over the next three days, including one calling for an independent commission to look at Garda pay and conditions; and one calling for the establishment of an independent policing authority, to remove political interference.