Defence Minister criticises Dáil protest
Defence Minister Tony Killeen has said last night's protest outside the Dáil, during which a member of the gardaí was injured, "passed a very clear line".
An investigation is now underway into the incident which saw a group of up to 100 protestors try to enter the gates of the Dáil.
The violent scenes came at the conclusion of a march organised by the Right to Work Campaign, against the Government's plans to inject billion of euro into the country's banks, in which up to 500 people are estimated to have taken part.
Gardaí were forced to draw batons against a small number of the protestors as the attempted to breach the gates of Leinster House. At least three people sustained minor injuries, including a garda.
Minister Killeen said today that he had no objections to a peaceful protest, but last night's incident was a step too far.
"I think there is always a role for peaceful protest in any democracy," Minister Killeen said. "But there is a very clear line beyond which people should not proceed.
"If a protest gets to the point of attacking members of the gardaí, it has certainly gone past a very clear line."
Meanwhile the Right to Work Campaign announced details of a second planned protest to be held at the Dáil next Tuesday at 7.30pm.
Group spokesperson James O’Toole commenting on the incident last night said: "There was no riot last night but a signal has been given that a new protest movement is emerging which says that the people have had enough.
"The central issue at stake is that Irish society is being systematically robbed by a government which has no democratic mandate to do what it is doing.
"Next Tuesday we expect many more people to join the protest which will be entirely peaceful."
