AGSI to consider becoming garda union

The group representing middle-ranking Gardaí says it could turn itself into a fully fledged union.

The AGSI was instrumental in negotiating a new pay deal for officers last week.

It was the first time ever that they had access to the Labour Court to resolve a dispute.

And the AGSI's General Secretary John Jacob said they may continue to try to expand their powers: "That's something we will have to consider as an association after the dust settles on all of this.

"The first thing we needed to secure was access to the industrial relations machinery that everybody else has access to and we are delighted now that moves are a foot to give us that access.

"The European Social decision did say that in essence that we had the majority of union functions, we just didn't have the title."