Members of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) staged a protest outside the meeting of European finance ministers.

The demonstration, which took place at Dublin Castle early yesterday morning and involved members of the GRA’s 30-strong central executive committee, was in protest at proposed public service pay cuts. Only members of the executive were involved.

GRA general secretary PJ Stone said: “We have been badly treated by our political masters and, having been repeatedly denied the opportunity to directly negotiate our pay, we must express our anger and frustration through our continued placard protest.”