Two Garda unions have strongly criticised comments from the Chairman of the Public Sector Pay Commission, Kevin Duffy, over the recent Garda industrial dispute.

Mr Duffy, who is the former head of the Labour Court, is reported to have said at an industrial relations conference earlier this morning that the strike threat by Gardaí was “unlawful by any standard”.

The AGSI President Antoinette Cunningham described Mr Duffy’s comments as “extremely damaging and divisive”.

However, the GRA President Ciaran O’Neill went even further saying if Mr Duffy’s comments are true, he has to step aside.

Mr O’Neill said: “Our concern is that Kevin Duffy is also the Chairman of the Public Service Pay Commission, and if they are true then I think he is after affecting its position, as the chairman of that board.

“The members of the Garda Representative Association, if we are entering into the Public Service Pay Commission, we have to be ensured that our members will receive a fair and impartial hearing.

“With those comments, I can’t see how that can happen.”