Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

This morning, I attended a protest in front of the Central Criminal Court in solidarity with two climate change protestors, Orla and Zac, who are facing trial for their participation in a protest last year. In two weeks' time, a ROSA activist, Aislinn O'Keeffe, faces trial accused of organising a small protest in Limerick against gender-based violence. We have also seen more and more use of the law against striking workers, for example, the Debenhams workers last year. Does the Taoiseach agree that the right to protest is a fundamental human right and that protest should not be criminalised? Zac and Orla face the threat of imprisonment, Orla for allegedly painting "No more empty promises" on a Department building in reference to climate and Zac simply for allegedly filming that act. The real criminals are the big business polluters and the head-in-the-sand politicians. Activists like Orla, Zac and Aislinn should be congratulated, not criminalised.

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