John Kelly (Labour) | Oireachtas source

In the past few days we have heard in the media about people's right to protest.

I compliment those who protested on Merrion Square, where the protest seemed to be more like a concert. The peaceful nature of the protest resembled protesters who were more or less welcoming water charges. However, on O'Connell Bridge at 2.30 p.m., a few hundred people decided to bring the entire city to a standstill, with the result that people on their way to hospital appointments could not move. At 6 p.m., almost four hours later, I met elderly people accompanied by their grandchildren who could not get home because buses were not running and taxis were not moving. This was outrageous and unacceptable behaviour. When gardaí eventually arrived to move the protestors off the streets, they were spat on by thugs who want to do nothing but create anarchy. Their behaviour was absolutely outrageous.