Irish nurses, police, firefighters and prison guards vent fury over pay cuts

Seanmac, from what I have observed of the gardai, it is best that the majority of them remain unarmed. I have read in the Irish press that the gardai are arguing about allowances such as 'danger money', having to work 'unsocial hours' etc. What did these people think they were getting into when they signed up? Law enforcement is a dangerous occupation worldwide and everybody is aware they work unsocial hours, but it is not like the people who seek employment in this field are not aware of this from the outset.

Read your history Paul Hogan, and you will find out what type of man Larkin was. An Garda Siochána is a national police force, which is still able to function mainly without firearms. This is because it is accepted by the people.

Irish nurses are welcome in San Antonio, Texas.

It's difficult to judge the protests of public service workers when contract negotiations are kept secret from the public. It's not like they're slaves working in the laundries.

I don't think it's a good idea. Jobs like firefighters and nurses are crucial to the safety and health of a nation.

I do not feel a bit sorry for the bitching about paycuts. There were 8 in our family. And when some of us wanted to join the Garda my Father would not have any of it. He grew up in the troubled times and he said there were two corrupt institutions in Ireland, they were the Garda and the clergy. These same Garda when the average worker goes on strike, they will be used to batten them to the ground. The only one who stood up for the working class in Ireland was Jim Larkin. These people who were bitching about having their pay cut will vote for the same clique in the next election. In the last 8 or 9 years the politicians in Ireland and the clergy were the most corrupt.