Gardaí to escalate campaign for pay restoration if they are not heard

Middle ranking Gardaí say they will escalate their campaign if their call for pay restoration falls on deaf ears.
Several hundred sergeants and inspectors marched through Dublin earlier in protest at the 25% pay cut they say they have suffered since 2008.
While they were wearing blue, they didn't march in uniform, but the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors say they may in future.
Members say they didn't protest lightly.
Hundreds of Gardaí are gathering in Dublin to march to the Dáil in protest at their pay.
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors has said middle ranking Gardaí have lost 25% of their pay since 2008.
They also want to be able to negotiate their pay, as trade unions do.
AGSI are not marching in uniform today but have not ruled out doing so in future.
Garda Sergeants & Inspectors out in protest today over pay restoration - I'll have more on The 12.30 #tv3news pic.twitter.com/my8e5VjqK2
— Laura Hogan (@LauraHoganTV) May 17, 2016
An AGSI members explain why they are protesting; “We’re not looking for a pay rise we are looking for what we had to be restored and we are also looking for the position to be able to negotiate our own pay deals, which at the moment we are not.
“We are totally excluded from any pay talks.”