Brawl Éireann : Sinister Leinster House DemonstrationsEvoke Chilling Questions of Security in Ireland’sChanging Political Climate
By Student Contributor Lorraine Casey
Described by Micheál Martin as an “attempt to undermine the seat of Irish democracy,” intimidative demonstrations at Leinster House on September 20, that resulted in many politicians and staff unable to enter or exit their place of work, have eerily unveiled the tensions brewing in the Irish political sphere. Speaking at the National Ploughing Championships, the Tánaiste’s remarks echo those of An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, who expressed concern surrounding the rising threat levels against those in government, with the scenes in Dublin being the latest in the recent spate of threats faced by Ireland’s elected representatives. While many, such as Ceann Comhairle Séan Ó Fearghail, have acknowledged the importance of protest in an effective and fruitful democracy, it is the aggressive and sinister nature of the demonstrations against politicians, staff, and even members of the media - including reports of the faces of politicians from a variety of parties being attached to props of mock gallows, as well as the casting of urine and spitting at Leinster House staff, while one journalist was told he should be hanged - which have raised apprehensions in Merrion Street.
With TDs Michael Healy-Rae and Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire amongst those who faced intimidation requiring Garda assistance, the events of September 20 have ultimately cast a chilling light on the threat faced by those elected to public office in Ireland. The new Dáil term has opened rather unsettlingly, with an urgent security review of the Houses of the Oireachtas now underway. It comes just months after the conversation surrounding politicians’ personal safety was brought to the forefront of current affairs, when TDs Anne Rabbitte and Ciarán Concannon were greeted with bags of cow faeces at a public meeting in January. The incident in Gort had been preceded by Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny falling victim to a vehicle crashing through the gates of his home in September 2021, just two years after his own car had been cast alight in 2019. As a guest on podcast, “The Groupchat” by Virgin Media News, West Cork’s Holly Cairns spoke out about the level of abuse, escalating as far as stalking, she has been subject to, coinciding the breaking of an Irish Times article where five female representatives anonymously shared their experiences. Meanwhile, over the summer recess, TD Mary Butler was advised by Gardaí not to travel alone following a severe death threat that she received.
While some have regarded the comments of the Green Party’s Marc Ó Cathasaigh in light of Wednesday’s events as stark - “Do we imagine we're far from a Jo Cox moment? We’ve pretended to ourselves that we’re immune to this kind of dangerous polarisation in this country. We are not.” - it is clear to everyone in Government that some form of action must be taken to ensure the safety of its 220 politicians and 1,200 staff. Possible solutions include moving protest barriers further away from Leinster House, but as the debate is already stirring surrounding Ireland’s Hate Speech legislation - with proposed amendments to the Prohibition to Incite to Hatred Act being one of the variety of issues protested on Wednesday- those in government are anxious not to infringe on the rights of the public to protest and have access to their parliament, while also guaranteeing their own safety in their place of work. With a separate task force already established to examine impediments to entry into politics and safe participation in public life, feelings of apprehension and ominosity can be drawn from responses of those in government, who are acutely aware of the careful balance that will need to be struck between the two and keep the ship afloat in Ireland’s turbulent political seas.
