The Tánaiste and Justice Minister says she will invite the Garda Representative Association to talks this week to try and avert next month’s strike.

Rank and file Gardaí are to walk off the job on four dates in November in a row over pay.

Frances Fitzgerald says she hopes she can find a way to resolve this dispute: “I will be inviting the GRA to come in and meet with me later this week, with a goal of getting back into detailed discussions, about the concerns that they have.

“I certainly want to have further discussions, detailed discussions, to understand the concerns, to see how we can respond and we will begin that process this week.

“It is all about discussion and negotiation and making progress this week, that is the goal.”