IRISH Life has reacted strongly to a Garda Federation statement that it has negotiated a better insurance deal for gardai with Eagle Star.

The breakaway Garda representative organisation said the new deal was superior to that offered by Irish Life to their rival organisation, the Garda Representative Association.

The Garda Federation is sending a bulletin to all Garda stations, outlining what it calls the "enhanced" deal it has negotiated with Eagle Star.

The group, representing Garda rank and file, has negotiated a deal which will cost £2 a week and includes cover for members spouses.

It says the GRA deal with Irish Life costs £3.67 a week and does not include cover for spouses. The federation says its benefits are superior to those offered in the GRA deal.

However, the associate director of Irish Life (corporate business), Mr Declan Moran, expressed "amazement" that the federation should compare the two deals.

He said the federation scheme did not take into account existing retired members, spouses of retired members and widows of deceased members, and did not cover gardai who had been forced to retire on ill health.

Since January 1st this year, Irish Life had paid benefits of £1.2 million through the scheme. During the period 20 gardai, aged between 21 and 63, had died.

However, the national secretary of the Garda Federation, Mr Chris Finnegan, expressed surprise at Mr Moran's comments.

It was untrue that the federation deal did not apply to retired members or their spouses, he said. He was retired and he and his wife were covered by the Eagle Star deal.

"Members of the GRA are going to have to look at the wisdom of their subsidising senior Garda ranks," Mr Finnegan said.

The Garda Federation has 2,500 members while the GRA has 8,000. However, the GRA life assurance deal covers 9,500 people, 2,500 of whom are pensioners.

The GRA deal is open to gardai of all ranks, including non GRA members up to and including the commissioner. The federation scheme is open only to its members.