‘What we are witnessing is unacceptable’ says Tánaiste
THE Tánaiste has voiced concerns about a growing ‘militancy’ of groups in Ireland whom he accused of trying to characterise the Government as a regime that needs to be overthrown.
Micheál Martin said democracy was under threat amid an increasing level of ‘viciousness and violence and lack of respect for the basic laws of the land and for those who help to enforce those laws’.
Mr Martin made the comments as he condemned scenes of disorder in Co. Wicklow on Thursday evening when gardaí were attacked as a protest at a site earmarked for asylum seeker accommodation turned violent.
‘We as a society have to make it very clear – as a government and as a society – that we will not tolerate any infringement on people going about their daily work, and in particular will not accept attacks on members of An Garda Síochána,’ Mr Martin told reporters in Dublin.
‘Members of An Garda Síochána are the key to a democratic society and to cohesion of a democratic
‘Increasing level of viciousness’
society, and what we are witnessing is unacceptable.
‘And we will give every support that we have to the gardaí in the light of what is without question an increasing level of viciousness and violence and lack of respect for the basic laws of the land and for those who help to enforce those laws and maintain those laws, An Garda Síochána,’ he said.
Mr Martin said the Government would discuss at Cabinet level if more support was needed for the Garda.
‘I think there’s a fundamental point in terms of where Irish society is going and the level of commentary, the coarseness of the commentary, the abuse, the violent nature of that commentary and now, as we see, in actions as well, that threatens our democracy, that threatens the way of life,’ he added.
‘We have challenges, we have pressures, and we have pressure from migration, we know that, [but] this isn’t tolerable.’
Asked about social media threads agitating for civil conflict, he said: ‘I’m very, very concerned about that type of language and that type of militancy that is emerging among some groups.
‘But I’m very clear that the vast, vast majority of Irish people want nothing to do with that and oppose that.
‘We’ve got to reflect the views of the vast majority of people who want civil order, who want our gardaí protected and they want the gardaí to be allowed to do their duties unhindered.
‘So, the obligation of Government is to support the democratic will of the people in respect of the upholding of basic law and order and civil order and how we do things,’ he said.
‘We understand the challenges and pressures and many local communities out there have legitimate concerns and legitimate interests that they’re entitled to raise.’
But he said some threads described the Government as a ‘regime to be overthrown’.
‘We’re going to have to stand up to that,’ he added.