The Garda Commissioner has written a personal letter to every member of the force saying he understands the economic difficulties they face but the proposed action would damage the moral authority of the gardaí to police the State.
Earlier Commissioner Murphy called in members of the Garda Representative Association executive to ask them about the decision to ballot members on industrial action.
Fachtna Murphy met GRA General Secretary PJ Stone and GRA President Michael O'Boyce - both of whom are gardaí - for around 45 minutes this afternoon.
The Garda Commissioner set out his grave concerns about the proposed action of the GRA, he provided the General Secretary with a letter setting out the potential civil and criminal legal implications of the proposed action as advised to him by the Attorney General.
The President and the General Secretary undertook to discuss the contents of the letter with their Central Executive Committee.
The Garda Commissioner is satisfied that this was a constructive and progressive meeting.
The two GRA executives left without making any comment.
It is illegal for members of the gardaí to go on strike and the Government has already described the decision to ballot GRA members on industrial as a challenge to the authority of the State.
The issue was discussed at the Cabinet this morning.
