'Blue Army' takes to the streets

Up to 2,000 gardaí took to the streets of Dublin today as the country's blue army protested the Government's handling of the recession.

Up to 2,000 gardaí took to the streets of Dublin today as the country's blue army protested the Government's handling of the recession.

Rank-and-file officers staged a national rally against the controversial public service pension levy, which is expected to pass its final stages in the Dáil tonight.

Members of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) travelled from all over the country to march across the capital and demonstrate outside Leinster House.

GRA general secretary PJ Stones told the emotional crowd the rally was only the beginning of the its campaign.

He warned politicians that members would not forget the levy in the upcoming elections.

"Remember this day, remember what they have done to you," Mr Stone said to gardaí.

"We will say, and we are going to say from now on: 'We shall not forget'."

Mr Stone said almost every off-duty officer in the country had made a supreme effort to join the campaign while the force continued to provide a 24-hour service.

"It has shown clearly that perhaps we underestimated the debt of anger and frustration among our own members," he continued.

"We are not here to try and get out from under this levy, we believe the way they are imposing it and the way they have gone about it is wrong.

"But we are very pleased with the response from the people of Dublin, who came out and clapped because people fully understand the guards are doing a difficult job."

Trade unions leaders are to ballot members for a one-day national strike next month which could paralyse the country unless Government engages on a new plan to take the country through the crisis.

The GRA - which cannot take part in the walk-out - is also demanding the right to ballot its members on industrial action, like other legitimate trade unions.

"Why can't they introduce legislation along with the levy to allow me to ballot my members on whether they want to take industrial action or not," added Mr Stone.

"I don't know what the answer to that will be.

"The fact that we are denied it clearly shows and illustrated to me that this government is afraid of the realities of the truth."

GRA president Michael O'Boyce, from Donegal, accused the Government of crippling the public sector.

He said the numbers marching exceeded their expectations.

"They came here to express their anger and frustration at the way they have been treated," added Mr O'Boyce.

"We all have families to look after like everyone else and we know we have to share the pain. But that pain has to be spread across society equally."

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