Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

The McCarthy report made a number of suggestions regarding payroll costs not only in regard to the Garda but across the justice sector, as it did in other areas. The Government must bear those in mind but, ultimately, it has to make decisions, as I have to in regard to my own budget.

I have made my position clear on the Garda issue. The Government - and the Oireachtas - will agree that we cannot countenance gardaí going on strike. That would be an affront to democracy and that view is held by the wider public. I have been in touch with the Garda Commissioner regularly regarding the recent announcement by the Garda Representative Association, GRA, and I am aware of the discussions he has had with the GRA. I suggest strongly, as I did over the past few days, that the GRA should again reflect on its position in that its members are not being asked to take more pain than any other sector in society.

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