The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors have welcomed a ruling from Europe which will allow them go on strike and negotiate their pay and conditions.

The new ruling by the European Committee of Social Rights, means that for the first time, gardai will be legally allowed to strike, form a trade union and take part in pay talks. The committee ruled that a ban on the right to strike for gardai is a violation of an international agreement signed by the Irish government.

The AGSI lodged a complaint with Europe over the issue in 2012 - but the ruling has only been made.

The General Secretary of the AGSI, John Redmond says he hopes they never find themselves in a position where they need to go on strike.

“We are ever hopeful that we will never be in a position where we would have to take such action and take strike action because my philosophy is you have to talk and even if a group is to go on strike when all the strike is continuing talks have to take place as well, so my philosophy is do the talking and don’t do the striking,” Redmond said.