Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)

I compliment Dublin City Council and the Garda Síochána on the peaceful removal of the unauthorised encampment in Dame Street. I thoroughly respect everybody's right to protest, as they regularly do outside Leinster House every week. However, no group is entitled to put businesses at risk, obstruct them, or breach planning or health and safety laws. As St. Patrick's Day approaches, hopefully we will welcome many visitors to our country. I hope the unauthorised development in Eyre Square in Galway will also be dismantled peacefully before next weekend. It is certainly causing problems and issues for many people, and is not the image of the city we want to project. I hope the protestors will see sense and remove it in good time before the St. Patrick's Day celebrations.