Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There is growing concern that these arrests are politically motivated and that somebody somewhere has a desire to criminalise the community in Jobstown and the entire anti-water charges movement. I would like to make it clear that I do not believe it is acceptable in a democracy to protest at politicians' homes. Equally, it is not acceptable to detain politicians, political staff or council workers as they go about their business. I do not believe it is appropriate to aggressively target the Office of the President. I believe protests should be peaceful and dignified. Indeed, that is what they have been for the most part. I share the concern of a growing number of people that what the gardaí are doing is of a political nature. Does the Tánaiste share my concern that there is a campaign to criminalise the people of Jobstown and the hundreds of thousands of people who are campaigning against water charges? Does she share the view that the level of Garda resources being deployed is over the top and is in stark contrast to the lack of response to victims of crime in west Tallaght and elsewhere? Does she stand over the manner in which gardaí are conducting these arrests and treating the people of Jobstown?

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