Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

Last Tuesday we witnessed a peaceful protest outside Leinster House which was hijacked by a number of thugs, many of them operating under the Socialist Workers Party banner. It is important that anyone who recognised anybody in the group should inform the Garda. Any Member of this House who knows anybody who was involved in attacking gardaí and members of staff has a duty to give that information to the Garda, as I have done. I viewed not only the footage carried on TV3 but also other footage not shown on our television screens in which sticks and banners were used to beat gardaí at the protest. It was far more vicious than what we had seen. The Leader should ask the Superintendent and the Captain of the Guard to ensure adequate protection will be afforded to members of staff and that there will be a sufficient number of gardaí to police such events in the future. I am totally in favour of a right to engage in peaceful protest; however, it is a disgrace that there are these hangers-on and thugs who latch onto those engaged in peaceful protests. It is something we must weed out.

I support Senator O'Toole's point about the shortage of legislation before the House this week. It is disgraceful. The Order Paper shows Bills listed but which are not before the House to be dealt with. The reason is a lack of Government will to have these Bills before the House to be debated properly rather than debated in the last weeks, as has been stated by Senator White. We all know this is what will happen. It is unacceptable for the House to be asked to rush legislation, as has been the case on numerous occasions. I hope the Leader will address this situation.