Gardaí will not take industrial action during the US President’s visit to Ireland next week.

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) today agreed to take part in further protests in its ongoing rostering dispute with Garda management.

The association said it plans to take part in four protest days in the next four months.

If there is no resolution in sight after the four protest days, they are threatening strike action.

Speaking after the vote this afternoon, AGSI General Secretary Antoinette Cunningham said members would cooperate with President Biden’s visit – but would not guarantee to do the same for any future State visits.

“We will cooperate with the visit of the VIP - the President of the United States - next week but under protest and without the guarantee of cooperation for future VIP visits,” she said.

“This will be followed in the coming months with the continued highlight, on health safety and welfare grounds, of the effect that this lack of roster certainty is having on the membership we represent.

“In that regard, we will take a day of protest action - one a month for the next four months in May, June July and August - and will protest outside the Department, Dáil Éireann and outside the commissioner’s office at Garda Headquarters.”

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Reporting from Ellen Butler at the AGSI Conference.