Paul Murphy urges end to criminalisation of protesters
Paul Murphy addressed the Taoiseach about recent prosecutions of protesters, highlighting climate activists Orla and Zak and Rosa activist Aisling O'Keefe. He argued the right to protest is a fundamental human right and said activists should be congratulated, not criminalised.
Protest cases raised
Paul Murphy described attending a protest outside the criminal courts in solidarity with two climate change protesters, Orla and Zak, who face trial for participation in a protest last year. He said Orla allegedly painted "no more empty promises" on a department building and Zak was accused of filming the act. He also noted that in two weeks a Rosa activist, Aisling O'Keefe, faces trial accused of organising a small protest in Limerick against gender-based violence.
Use of law against workers
The speaker warned of increasing use of the law against striking workers and cited the Debenhams workers last year as an example. He framed these prosecutions as part of a broader pattern of legal action affecting protest and labour rights.
Taoiseach's response
The Taoiseach replied that it was not appropriate to comment on cases coming before the courts and said he did not believe the country was criminalising protests. He reaffirmed a commitment to parliamentary democracy, freedom of expression and speech, and referenced the European Union as a protector of those rights while commenting on global polarisation.
Speaker's argument and framing
Paul Murphy called the "real criminals" the big business polluters and "head-in-the-sand" politicians, arguing activists like Orla, Zak and Aisling should be congratulated rather than facing imprisonment. He emphasised the threat of imprisonment for actions he described as protest and insisted on defending the right to protest.
Legal and political implications
The exchange highlighted tension between protesters and state responses, with cases pending in the courts and differing public framing from the speaker and the Taoiseach. The debate raises questions about how protest, climate action and labour disputes are treated by the justice system and political leadership.
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Taoiseach, this morning I attended a protest in front of the criminal courts, in solidarity with two climate change protesters, Orla and Zak, facing trial for their participation in a protest last year. In two weeks' time, a Rosa activist, Aisling O'Keefe, faces trial accused of organising a small protest in Limerick against gender-based violence. We have also seen more and more use of the law against striking workers, for example the Debenhams workers, last year. Taoiseach, do you agree that the right to protest is a fundamental human right and protests should not be criminalised? Zak and Orla face the threat of imprisonment, for one of them Orla allegedly painting no more empty promises on a department building about climate change, and Zak simply for allegedly filming that act. The real criminals are the big business polluters and the head-in-the-sand politicians. Activists like Orla and Zak and Aisling should be congratulated, not criminalised. In terms of Deputy Murphy's, again, these are cases that are coming before the courts, I don't think it's appropriate for me to comment on them. Of course, in terms of, you know, I don't believe this country is criminalising protests at all, I don't believe that. And, you know, I'm committed to parliamentary democracy and to the right to freedom of expression, to the right to freedom of speech. I've always been committed to those universal rights, and I think, thankfully, this country does celebrate those rights. We're part of a European Union that remains one of the last bastions that protects these rights. I have to agree with the American president that increasingly the world is becoming polarised between authoritarian regimes and democratic regimes. He should know he arms quite a few of them. He should know he arms quite a few of them. Sorry, I'm talking about, look, we've been dealing with Belarus, for example, from the European Union. Let's not try and always dilute the core argument that I'm putting to it, because it's the truth of what I'm saying. And you always have to try and go and always, I don't agree with what I'm hungry at all, in terms of what it's doing. But let's not pretend. We need to move to question number 12, please.
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