Disappointing news for Templemore, Co Tipperary, this evening as Justice Minister Alan Shatter announces he will delay hiring more Gardaí, following the rejection by unions, of Crokepark 2.
Minister Shatter has stated that without an agreement on the public-service pay deal, he will have no funds to pay for new recruitment. The Minister had hoped to begin a recruitment campaign towards the end of the year.
The General Secretary of the Association of Garda Superintendents is also warning that the strength of the force is now at a critically low level.
Superintendent Pat McCabe used the AGSI annual conference to call for Garda recruitment to begin again as soon as physically & financially possible.
Noel Coonan TD had recently welcomed positive news from his Fine Gael colleague, Alan Shatter, that the Government was now to review its position regarding the future recruitment of new Gardaí, following representations on this matter, with Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe.
It would appear North Tipperary has been targeted again when this government decides to manufacture cutbacks.
It looks like BLACKMAIL to me.