Talks were taking place at Garda Headquarters in Phoenix Park, last evening, to avoid a potential blockade by angry civilian staff who were refused entry in their cars yesterday morning.
Forensic and administrative staff, along with a large number of gardai, were refused entry through the security gates when they turned up for work yesterday under a new parking permit scheme.
There was a temporary blockade of the main entrance to the headquarters yesterday morning as staff were turned away by the security unit at the main gate.
Staff, who previously had free parking access inside the gates, were forced to leave their cars around the fringes of Phoenix Park, causing further disruption in the area. Park rangers objected to cars being parked on grass verges and during yesterday the problem escalated to the point where the civilian staff unions were proposing a blockade of the headquarters from next week.
The unions and Garda representatives protested that the new parking restrictions were introduced by edict by the Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, without prior consultation.
Hundreds of civilian and Garda staff have been allowed to park inside the perimeter of the Garda HQ until yesterday.
Garda management decided to introduce the restrictions because of an increase in traffic congestion inside the complex.
The civilian staff unions and Garda Representative Association members held a protest meeting in the band hall at the headquarters yesterday evening to discuss the ban on parking.