Latest: Minister focused on negocation after AGSI votes to join Garda strike

"We have no other option but to take this action" President @antoabs #AGSIpay pic.twitter.com/4FCsbaBsDQ

— AGSI (@AGSI_Ireland) October 17, 2016

"My focus and that of the Government is on negotiation," she said.

"I remain focused on finding a pathway to negotiate with AGSI in a way which is fair to their members, the taxpayer and other public sector workers. This must be within the parameters of the very real constraints on public sector pay."

She added: "I am also absolutely committed to the Garda representative bodies having access to the statutory dispute resolution bodies - the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court.

"I expect the Review of An Garda Síochána that is underway at present under the Chairmanship of Mr John Horgan will map out what needs to be done to achieve this.

"However, it is important to note that changes to primary legislation will be required to achieve this.

"I am committed to such provision being made and once the Chair of the Review has completed his examination of this matter my Department will move as quickly as possible to put in train whatever actions are required.

"It would be most unfortunate if, rather than engaging further, action were to be contemplated that would not be in the best interests of our communities or of An Garda Síochána."

Update 6.08pm: The president The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), Antoinette Cunningham, has said that members "overwhelmingly" backed the strike action today.

The AGSI will stage industrial action on November 4, 11, 18 and 25 and will refuse to operate the force's official database PULSE on October 21 and 28.

The unprecedented move could see just a few hundred top-ranking officers left to police the entire country on the four Fridays.

"We did not take this decision lightly, however we feel we have no choice but to show Government how serious we are about restoring pay for our members," she said.

"We also hope that senior Garda management will respect our decision to take this action."

Ms Cunningham claimed members have been inundated with messages of support from the public.

"We care about what the public think because we work to serve them," she added.

"We have been subjected to a campaign of media criticism by politicians whose time would be better served trying to solve these matters rather than splitting the gardai and the public they serve."

151 AGSI delegates attending Special Delegate Conference today 10am-4pm #AGSIpay pic.twitter.com/q9qIgQZhrg

— AGSI (@AGSI_Ireland) October 17, 2016

It is illegal for gardai to formally strike or for representative bodies to order members to walk out.

But The AGSI said it has taken legal advice on their proposed action agreed at a special delegate conference in Athlone, where it called for a 16.5% pay restoration claim following cuts in recent years.

It also wants to be allowed to negotiate further pay deals at State industrial relations agencies, the same as other public sector workers.

Update 4.35pm: Mid-ranking gardaí will go on strike the four Fridays in November in a sustained campaign of industrial action.

In addition, AGSI members will not engage in any PULSE-related activity next Friday, October 21 and October 28.

Members will also refuse to engage in administrative duties on those dates.

The AGSI said that the matter is now in the Government’s hands - and they will continue to meet with them.

AGSI president Antoinette Cunningham explained what will happen in November.

"The four Friday is November ... is a withdrawal of labour by individual members od AGSI," she said.

"And those are the proposed dates of action, as decided by the delegates here in Athlone today."

Update 3.08pm: The Garda Representative Association has asked specialist units to report for duty during its four strike days next month.

Members of the Emergency Response Unit and Regional Support Units are both expected to report for normal rostered duty.

The GRA says this will ensure a skeletal service to protect the security of the State.

Around 10,000 rank-and-file gardaí in the GRA will down tools for four Fridays in November.

Delegates from around the country representing 2,000 mid-ranking gardaí are meeting in Athlone today to deciee whether to join them.

The AGSI is expected to announce its decision at a press conference at 4pm.

Earlier:

Tánaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has today urged middle-ranking Gardaí to re-engage with her on the issue of pay.

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (ASGI) will meet later to decide whether to mount a campaign of industrial action.

Rank-and-file members of the Garda Representative Association have already decided to strike on four days next month.

The AGSI had done a deal with the Government on pay earlier this year and signed up to the Lansdowne Road pay agreement.

However, when rank-and-file members of the GRA decided to embark on a campaign of strike action, the AGSI decided to reconsider their position.

President of the AGSI Antoinette Cunningham said that her members have had enough.

"I've never seen the mood as resolute, I've never seen people as disillusioned, I've never seen people as many broken promises from Government and Government Ministers and Government officials around Garda rights," she said.

Minister Fitzgerald is refusing to speculate on contingency plans should thousands of gardaí embark on strike, insisting that the dispute must be resolved.

"The focus has to be on finding a pathway forward to negotiate," she said.

"I've met with both organisations. The Government and I both, we want to find a way forward that is fair to An Garda Síochána who, like so many public sector workers have had very difficult times in recent years, that's fair to an garda Síochána, that's fair to the broader public sector workforce and, as I say, to the taxpayer."

The Tánaiste has also re-stated her commitment to allow gardaí have access to the Labour Court and Workplace Relations Commission.