Updated, 08:20
AROUND 30 MEMBERS of the Garda Representative Association are protesting outside Dublin Castle this morning as a summit of EU finance ministers gets under way.
Members of the Central Executive Committee of the GRA are demonstrating against cuts to their pay and conditions as proposed under the terms of the successor to the Croke Park Agreement on public sector pay and reform.
The agreement has proposed cutting €60 million from the garda pay bill over the next thee years but has been met with anger among rank-and-file gardaí and created considerable tension with government.
The summit at Dublin Castle will see European finance ministers and Central Bank governors from across Europe hold informal discussions with the lengthening of Ireland’s bailout loans among matters to be discussed.
“We have been badly treated by our political masters, and having been repeatedly denied the opportunity to directly negotiate our pay, we must express our anger and frustration through our continued placard protest,” GRA general secretary PJ Stone said in a statement.
The GRA members protesting this morning will be holding placards with the slogan ‘IRELAND Support your Police’ as well as placards with a German translation of the same phrase.
Justice Minister Alan Shatter said recently that the approach taken by both the GRA and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors has done a “disservice to members of the Force”.
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