The Garda Commissioner is to press ahead with his plans for the establishment of armed regional support units.
They would deal with firearms, barricade incidents, or hostage situations.
But Garda Sergeants and Inspectors voted unanimously this afternoon to call on the Commissioner to reverse his plans.
However the Garda Commissioner, Fachtna Murphy, told the delegates that while he would take their concerns on board the regional support unit were needed.
He said he could not afford dedicated armed units idly waiting around to deal with isolated incidents.
The regional support units he said would be a second tier response.
He also said that he was fully committed to the ethos of an unarmed police force and that the Garda Síochána would remain unarmed.
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors earlier called for the establishment of a Europe-wide criminal database so gardaí will know if convicted criminals from other countries are coming into Ireland.
The AGSI conference in Co Meath has heard that a number of immigrants with convictions for serious crimes, including murder, have entered Ireland.
These people should be required to register at their local garda station within 48 hours.
The conference also heard calls for all gardaí to be trained in the use of riot shields and for the establishment of a public order unit in each garda division.
