The Justice Minister has denied Garda unions were excluded from the recent talks on the Croke Park extension deal.

Alan Shatter has told the Dáil that he has genuine concern for the position in which members of the force now find themselves.

The Minister says that while he and the Garda Commissioner are "always available" on matters of concern to Gardaí the negotiations have now ended and the process moves on without them.

And Minister Shatter says members should consider how well served they were by their union representatives.