Members of the Garda Representative Association are on course for what the Garda Commissioner has termed "inevitable" confrontation with him, by resolving to step up industrial action in support of their pay claim.
The vote to escalate the protest from Wednesday was taken at the end of the two-day GRA conference, in defiance of Mr Pat Byrne and despite appeals from the Government for the organisation to concentrate on negotiations.
On Tuesday Mr Byrne warned delegates that protesting gardai would be disciplined. The Commissioner said confrontation between Garda management and rank-and-file gardai was "inevitable" if there were more "blue flu" protests.
But delegates voted yesterday for more industrial action, including a day of national protest on the prologue stage of the Tour de France on July 11th.
Protesting gardai are refusing already to issue parking and speeding tickets, co-operate with the PULSE information technology programme or police non-public events such as concerts and major sporting fixtures.
Delegates also voted to refuse to co-operate with new time-saving court procedures. Under these, arresting gardai submit written details of the arrest to the court instead of attending in person to give evidence.
Negotiations on Garda pay broke down last month after an offer of 5.5 per cent. No official target has been announced but gardai want up to 15 per cent.
The GRA refused a further offer of 7 per cent in return for a deal on productivity.
"This is the time to get it right, once and for all," Mr P.J. Stone, the GRA general secretary, told the meeting. He said the GRA would "take on the Government" and ensure it won the pay fight "whether it be dirty or clean".
Gardai had to be taken out of the public sector pay equation, Mr Stone said, and given an annual or biennial pay review. "Nothing else will do."
Unless the GRA demands were met "the 11th, 12th and 13th of July are our days, without a doubt," he said.
Mr Pat McQuaid, managing director of Irish Tour de France organisers, L'Evenement, said the action would not affect the race.
"The logistics of the first race are quite simple," Mr McQuaid said. The 5 km time trial course in Dublin would be "completely barriered off", and any Garda action would affect city traffic on the outskirts.
"Whatever happens the Tour de France will go ahead," Mr McQuaid said. The organisers, including gardai, met in Paris on Tuesday, and Mr McQuaid said Irish organisers would work with Government to come up with contingency plans if gardai decided on more disruption.
The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Dr McDaid, had earlier appealed to the GRA not to disrupt the Tour, which begins on July 11th. He said the race would broadcast positive images of Ireland to 950 million people worldwide, instead of the negative broadcasts associated with July 12th.
The conference also voted to consider giving only 48 hours' notice of further protests; that gardai who had not passed official driving courses would refuse to drive official cars; and gardai would refuse to co-operate with new time-saving court procedures.
Most gardai who drive official cars have not completed the official course and drive on what is called "chief's permission". About 200 gardai complete the official course every year.
Earlier a delegate referred to the Tour as a "five of trumps in our back pocket". Another delegate responded to the Commissioner's warning of a collision course. "That collision course is of his making. If he wants to avoid it he should get back on his side of the road."
The GRA president, Mr John Healy, said the GRA would "defend any member that's victimised as a result of our campaign".
