Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)

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.

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