THE GARDA SIOCHANA is refusing to outline any preparations it is making in the case of trouble flaring on Budget Day next week.

A Garda spokesman told TheJournal.ie that he could not divulge details of what precautions, if any, Garda bosses were putting in place at Leinster House or at the Department of Finance next Tuesday:

It would be an operational matter and we couldn’t comment on that.

However, The Irish Daily Star is today reporting that leave for all members of the Garda riot squad has been cancelled for next week. The specially-trained and equipped members will be on standby in case they need to be drafted in to quell violence around Dail buildings. Michael O’Toole writes:

It’s understood gardai are expecting protests as Finance Minister Brian Lenihan unveils the toughest Budget in living memory. Sources say the several hundred strong Garda Public Order Unit will be deployed in reserve within a few hundred yards of the Dail, ready to respond to any trouble.

The Garda Press Office said that it wouldn’t be commenting on any “third-party reports” about how the gardai planned to protect Brian Lenihan and other Cabinet members in the case of angry scenes following the Budget announcements.