Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not accept the assertion that the Deputy makes or his description of the work that An Garda Síochána is doing as political policing. I do not accept that assertion. Gardaí are out there, doing their job. The Government and I fully support the right of our citizens to protest, including the right of those who wish to protest peacefully against water charges or Irish Water. However, I am grateful to the men and women of An Garda Síochána for facilitating the safe and orderly conduct of many large protests in cities and towns throughout the State and for the other work they have done, often in extremely difficult circumstances, as we have seen in many video clips on various social media. I am very grateful to the men and women of An Garda Síochána for the way they have done this work in recent months and the way they have carried out their functions. Operation Mizen is simply what I have said it is - a straightforward operation to make sure that public order is maintained.

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