The issue of tackling gangland crime will be high on the agenda at today's conference of the Garda Representative Association.

Rank and file Gardai say unarmed officers should not be sent to respond to shootings.

The Garda Representative Association says itÂ’s unacceptable that gardai havenÂ’t had tactical training in eight years.

At their conference in Killarney in Kerry theyÂ’ll be debating motions on issues including training and arming officers.

GRA President Dermot OÂ’Neill says lessons can be learned from the US, and that unarmed gardai should never have responded to the Regency Airport shooting in February;