The Garda Representative Association has lost a High Court action challenging changes to sick leave regulations.
The measures were introduced across the public service by the Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin in March.
Sick leave in the public service costs the State several hundred million euro every year.
To save money, Minister Brendan Howlin introduced the new cost cutting regulations across the public service.
The Garda Representative Association believes its members should not fall under the regulations because their job can be so dangerous.
The new measures will effectively halve the period gardaí can claim full sick leave pay.
The GRA took legal action to stall the regulations coming into effect on gardaí until further talks are held.
But High Court President Nicholas Kearns has refused to prolong a consultation process he feels is designed solely to achieve an outcome that is satisfactory to the GRA.
