Two gardaí are physically attacked every day while ass­aults on emergency services workers are on the rise, according to figures released by the Garda Representative Association (GRA).

Representatives from the GRA are due to meet justice minister Dermot Ahern to discuss amending legislation to make it a specific offence to assault an emergency worker.

At present, someone charged with assaulting gardaí, ambulance and fire brigade personnel, as well as doctors and nurses, is charged under section 2 and 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. The GRA is seeking a legislative amendment to make an 'assault on an emergency worker' a specific offence.

"It's to do with marking the gravity of the offence. It would send out a message that it is not acceptable to attack those who are att­empting to protect society and hopefully reduce this high number of attacks. We believe the minster is open to what we're looking for," GRA president Michael O'Boyce said.

"We would propose those charged with this offence should have their cases heard in the Circuit Court. This court carries a higher potential prison term than cases heard in the District Court, where many assaults against gardaí and emergency workers are held. It's not about putting people in prison but we do want people to think twice before they assault people who're just trying to do their job." The GRA is due to meet with Ahern in the coming weeks to discuss the issue.

In March, the GRA launched a graphic poster campaign depicting gardaí who have received facial injuries in the line of duty. It said it was intended to highlight the dangers officers face and was not a shock tactic. The billboard posters stated: "Gardaí face injuries in the line of duty – they do not deserve pay cuts." The posters were part of a campaign by the GRA against the public-sector pension levy. "We got a lot of criticism in the media about that campaign. But the response from the public was very positive. People were saying 'we didn't realise the extent of the violence'," said O'Boyce.