Strikes: ‘It should never have got to this state’

On October 1, the Irish Examiner said the Government had to act to avoid the “doomsday scenario” of frontline gardaí going on strike.

The unanimous decision by delegates of the Garda Representative Association on 28 September to hold four strike days — on the Fridays of November — was an unprecedented moment for the organisation, the Government and the country.

The day before, 95% of members who returned a ballot to the GRA said they were willing to take industrial action, up to and including withdrawal of labour.