Aggressive Dáil protests another example of 'madness' seen at libraries, says Eamon Ryan

"I think it's a disgrace and I think it's a complete insult to the Irish citizens. They voted for Michael and everything. But God Almighty, he's got the right to walk in safely.

"The people who vote for him expect that he's got the right to be able to walk in safely as well as all the staff there. So, I think it's it's absolutely shocking."

Referring to similar recent protests outside libraries, Mr Ryan said: "Protests outside libraries are the exact same attack on our constitutional, democratic republican values.

I was very proud that in Cork across the political system, every party stood up and stood up outside the library and said 'sorry, you're not you're not intimidating of the staff or other people visiting those libraries'. 

"I mean, that's an example of some of the madness, you're seeing libraries as the as the enemy. Unfortunately, some people get themselves into that, to my mind, very weird view of the world."

Asked if proposed legislation to provide safe access zones around some health care facilities should not be widened, Mr Ryan said: "It would be a sad state of a world if we have to create a safe zone around a library. That's an aberration when people are threatening librarians, I mean, how do you legislate for that?

"It's hard to legislate for something that's just completely out of anyone's definition of what's civil or appropriate.

He said instead of curbing protests through enhanced laws, Mr Ryan suggested that it must become something that people are "embarrassed" to engage in because it is so socially unacceptable.

"All of must give the signal, 'sorry this is not acceptable, this is not what we will tolerate it."

He added: "I think I think we have to look at in terms of how we manage security in Dáil Éireann, but we have to be careful, you don't lose the point of contact between Irish people and politicians and it's a real strength of our country, is that most people would know, a TD, I would never feel shy about approaching a TD, so we have to be careful in whatever response that you don't lose that point of contact, because that's the strength of our democracy."

Aggressive protests at Leinster House have 'no place in democratic society' — McEntee

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said the aggressive protests outside Leinster House yesterday have “no place in a democratic society”.

Speaking to RTÉ’s News at One, Ms McEntee said that those who attended the protest did not represent “the majority of people”.

“What we saw yesterday, there was aggression, there was intimidation, and it has absolutely no place in a democratic society,” Ms McEntee said.

Ms McEntee said that the protesters were not there to “make a point” but that they solely wanted to intimidate.

“They were there simply to be aggressive, to intimidate, not just ourselves as elected representatives, not just the Gardaí but also the people who are working and work there in Leinster House.

“People turned up with gallows, with pictures and with effigies and really this has absolutely no place in a democratic society.” Ms McEntee confirmed that the Superintendent from Pearse Street Garda Station and an assistant commissioner would be meeting with the Ceann Comhairle and other members of the Oireachtas to discuss the incident yesterday.

It comes as a review of security at Leinster House is due to get underway, with concerns being raised by TDs and senators. 

One politician has suggested there should be a “sterile” zone placed around the complex of Leinster House to allow staff, journalists and politicians to move freely in and out of their workplace.

Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland Fine Gael Senator and Cathaoirleach of the Senad, Jerry Buttimer said: "What I will say to the review, is that the area around Merrion Square, Mount Street, Kildare Street, Molesworth Street, they should be a sterile area where members of the Oireachtas and staff can move freely in and out, but also that the person and persons who wish to make a protest and voice or articulate a concern about an issue can do so as a legitimate way to do so.

"We have, as members have said, said people who come up, come out outside the gate every day protesting in a very fair and very personable way and make their points clearly. 

"But [Wednesday] was an attack on all of our democracy. It wasn't about a political party or a government. It was about everybody, It was about the institutions of the State."

Asked about calls for a ‘sterile zone’ around Leinster House, Ms McEntee said that she would “hate to see that happen”.

'Vile and vicious'

Speaking in the Dáil chamber, Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl said that the protests on Wednesday were "without precedent".

"What happened yesterday was without precedent. It was a fundamental attack on democracy," Mr Ó Fearghaíl said.

The people out there appear to me to have nothing to offer only the promotion of hate.

"What happened was particularly vile and vicious."

Mr Ó Fearghaíl compared the scenes to the events following the 2020 US Presidential elections, saying that such actions could never happen again.

"We can never see again happen what happened outside yesterday because it is an attack on democracy," he said.  

"If unchallenged and allowed to proceed, it will bring us to a point that we saw in the United States in the aftermath of the last presidential election. It can’t be allowed to continue.”

Yesterday, Fine Gael Senator Barry Ward wrote to Mr Harris over the protests, saying that Gardaí had to “step up and protect our democracy”.

“Public representatives should never be jostled, harassed or intimidated the way they were today, and the credibility of An Garda Síochána will be substantially eroded if action is not taken against these groups,” Mr Ward said.

“There is a responsibility on you [Garda Commissioner] to ensure that thugs like those outside Leinster House today are not emboldened to repeat or escalate this behaviour.” 

He added that the disruption seen on Kildare Street “cannot be allowed to happen again”.