RANK-and-file gardai are to place pickets at meetings of EU ministers at Dublin Castle during Ireland's presidency as they ratchet up their campaign against further pay cuts.

The campaign by the Garda Representative Association (GRA) was officially launched from midnight and will include a ban on using their personal cars, phones and computers for official duties as well as declining to volunteer on leave days for non-public policing work at major concerts and sports fixtures.

Last night a further two garda divisions of GRA members joined fellow gardai in votes of no confidence and support for industrial action.

Dublin Metropolitan West Region met in Westmanstown last night and voted in favour of a vote of no confidence in Justice Minister Alan Shatter, Commissioner Martin Callinan and Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin.

It is the latest division to vote, with Kildare and Wicklow also joining the revolt against proposed cuts. That leaves just five counties – Galway, Kilkenny, Wexford, Carlow and Meath – to ratify the proposals initially put forward by a meeting in Cork some three weeks ago.

Earlier yesterday, up to 30 gardai – including GRA president, John Parker, and general secretary P J Stone – paraded with placards outside Lansdowne House, in Dublin, where the public sector pay talks were taking place.

They said they would not obstruct government officials or trade unionists attending the talks as they walked outside with placards proclaiming, "1913 Lockout: 2013 Sell Out?"

Lobby

Mr Parker said those involved in the talks had no concept of the dangers faced by gardai.

"There's no danger money allowance, no public order allowance, and no allowance for being stabbed or shot," he added.

Mr Stone accused the Government of ignoring his association.

"There are discussions and negotiations going on here behind us and we're not party to those, nor were we invited to them," he added.

The gardai also intend to lobby TDs along with other frontline employees to put pressure on the Government to scrap its proposals for more pay cuts.

They will be joined in the campaign from next week by members of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors.

Mr Shatter said last night it was unfortunate that members of the association's executive had chosen not to take part in the talks but to protest outside Lansdowne House.

Irish Independent