I wish to raise a matter of very serious importance, namely the use of pepper spray by An Garda Síochána. My concerns arise from what happened last Saturday at Dublin Port. A group of protesters went to the port in solidarity as we approach two years since the genocide in Gaza began, and in light of Ireland’s continued favourable trade with Israel. This was part of a global movement. In Italy last Friday, for example, workers held a general strike to try to stop the barbarism and bloodshed. The protesters at Dublin Port, who were entirely peaceful, met a large cordon of gardaí who blocked their path and prevented them from progressing. The gardaí then proceeded to use pepper spray indiscriminately, without any verbal warning and at a distance closer than the recommended 1 metre minimum. Gardaí also had riot shields and used long batons on the day. I have a statement issued by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties following the events. It states it was gravely concerned by the heavy-handed policing approach to the protest. It refers to the indiscriminate use of pepper spray and states any use of force by gardaí must always be proportionate and necessary, in line with Garda policies. Let me set out what Garda policies stipulate and how they were breached. Human-rights law provides broad protection for the right to peaceful protest. It actually protects the right to block a road. The only ground upon which gardaí can use pepper spray is if they fear violence is being used directly against them. The UNHRC specifically notes that mere pushing or shoving or anything like that, which was not even the case at the port because people were just walking, does not constitute or amount to a threat or to violence. Independent legal observers were present on behalf of the ICCL on the day and will, I hope, provide a report. I turn to the Garda’s own regulations on the use of pepper spray. They state gardaí must always consider non-physical approaches, obviously. Paragraph 1.4 states the fundamental principle underpinning the use of pepper spray is that it must comply with the principles of legality, necessity, proportionality and accountability and is not to be used in a non-discriminatory manner. The regulations also state: "Every effort should be made to resolve an incident without resorting to the use of force." They add that gardaí "should avoid extended or repeat uses of Incapacitant Spray". That certainly did not happen. A councillor there on the day gave witness testimony. A young member of my own party who works with me went down with her friends. She is in her 20s and was not even particularly taking part in the protest and was sprayed with pepper spray. I want to make it very clear that this is double strength pepper spray that the Garda is now using. The impact of it was felt by people for more than two days. Women I know who were the victims of this told me that they showered about three times and they were still burning the next day. There was absolutely no justification in using that type of what is basically chemical warfare against peaceful protesters. There was no threat of violence. This pepper spray was not used at the race riot, for example, when gardaí were under attack. I think it was being used for a different reason. There had been an effective protest the previous week that had an impact at the port. By the way, people are entitled to do that. The Garda was determined that would not happen again and it wanted to send a message to pro-Palestine protestors not to go to the port again. That is what I think happened.
Sentiment score: -0.01
I hope I get the extra half minute now that the Minister of State got. I will tell the Minister of State what I agree with. I agree that this Government that is meant to support the Palestinian state has utterly failed to carry out action in the past two years to do that. It would not even pass the occupied territories Bill.
Sentiment score: 0.24
We are the second biggest trader with Israel.
Sentiment score: 0.00
It is true.
Sentiment score: 0.42
The Minister of State asked me a question. I totally agree that workers and young people throughout the world have been the only saving grace as this horrific genocide that we are seeing livestreamed on our phones each day has occurred. Only for the protest movements that are happening, there would be no action at all. The EU has been an utter disgrace throughout this and obviously the US has been a partner in the genocide. The Government is complicit in that it did nothing. I know the Government does not like that being said, but the word "complicit" means doing nothing when you see things happening as well doing something.
Sentiment score: -0.11
Nobody would have to protest if the Government actually undertook and carried through its so-called support for Palestine. The injuries sustained include one person who has a broken wrist.
Sentiment score: -0.15
One young woman I know is on crutches. I got a phone call after and went down myself, and I actually saw a second round of pepper spray used. The impact on some of the people and the effect of it was absolutely horrific. I remind the Minister of State there is broad protection for the right to protest, nationally and internationally. If you are walking on a road or even if you are going to block a road, the Garda does not have the right to use pepper spray. Blocking roads is an effective means of protest. It was done for the right to vote for women. It was done for civil rights. It is done for lots of things. The Minister of State wants ineffective protests that achieve very little. He asked me if I think people have the right to block a port for a period of time.
Sentiment score: -0.21
I absolutely do to stop a genocide. They were not blocking the port tunnel. They were up at the port. The Minister of State does not know what they were going to do because they were actually blocked by the Garda. They were not actually blocking anybody.
Sentiment score: -0.01
For a genocide? To block a road to stop a genocide? Absolutely.
Sentiment score: -0.21
Not every day, just one day
Sentiment score: 0.00
They were right; okay.
Sentiment score: 0.23
The Minister of State will not wait for any report. He will just-----
Sentiment score: 0.00
It is about gardaí breaking their own rules.
Sentiment score: 0.00
You are the one who has broken lots of laws with your housing and your properties.
Sentiment score: -0.48