It would be impossible to talk about the next meeting of the Cabinet committee on justice, home affairs and migration without discussing the absolute disaster that was last week. I am going to preface my comments by answering a question I know the Taoiseach will probably ask, because he asked it of my party leader earlier. Yes, I absolutely condemn the blocking of critical infrastructure and the threats to gardaí. However, does the Taoiseach endorse the tactics employed by his own Minister for justice last week, in particular the press statement that went out on Thursday morning, in advance of "Morning Ireland", stating that the Army would be on the streets and that vehicles would be damaged and nobody should complain? The Minister went on to further antagonise and accelerate an already difficult situation by saying the protesters were being manipulated by some idiot in the UK called Tommy Robinson. The C70 form sent by An Garda Síochána to the Defence Forces is an essential part of our security system. To politicise that, as the Minister for justice did on Thursday morning, is absolutely out of bounds. Does the Taoiseach endorse that? Should we see further protests on the streets, what lessons will be learned and how can we ensure it is not Government Ministers who inflame intentions?

Sentiment score: 0.01