The Tánaiste has urged both garda associations to suspend tomorrow’s planned strike – while the Labour Court draws up proposals.

Read: Garda strike looks certain to proceed as GRA issues list of members it WANTS to go to work

Frances Fitzgerald said the Court was not in a position to make a recommendation on garda pay until tomorrow.

The GRA – which represents 10,500 rank and file gardai has said the strike will go ahead unless significant progress on pay is made.

The AGSI is heading into the Labour Court around now.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald urged both groups to suspend their action: “In the context of giving time and space to consider both the results of the ballot and indeed the recommendation of the Labour court, I would indeed ask both organisations to suspend their action.

“We need to hear from the Labour court and indeed the results from the ballot.”

Gardaí say a €2,500 pay rise isn’t enough to make them call off their strike.

Last ditch talks are continuing today but yesterday rank and file officers held firm refusing to accept anything less than a ‘substantial’ salary hike.

Their middle-ranking colleagues will take their turn at the Labour Court this morning, however it’s looking increasingly unlikely a deal can be reached before tomorrow’s 7am deadline.

Economist Dan O’Brien has been crunching the numbers behind the dispute: “On average, on a weekly basis the average guard takes home €1300.

“Now that is almost 50% higher than everyone else in the public sector and it is almost 100% higher than everyone in the private sector average, that is what the basic published figures say.”