Gerard P. Craughwell: Blockades are 'an act of thuggery'
Gerard P. Craughwell addressed the Dáil after weekend demonstrations, condemning blockades that disrupted travel and targeted uniformed personnel. He argued the actions denied citizens essential access to services and voiced his full support for Garda members and Justin Kelly.
Condemnation of the blockade: Craughwell told the Dáil that while protest is legitimate, the recent blockade of vital national resources crossed a line and constituted an act intended to damage fellow citizens and impede freedom of movement. He criticised those who filmed and harassed members of the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces for merely doing their jobs.
Personal experience recalled: Drawing on his own past, Craughwell recalled being sergeant in charge of a riot platoon at the burial of Frank Stagg 50 years ago, noting that large, angry crowds that day did not attack or intimidate Gardaí on duty. He used that memory to contrast current behaviour toward uniformed services.
Consequences for citizens: He highlighted practical harms from the lockdowns - blocked main streets, denial of access to funerals, cancer care and childcare - arguing these actions punished ordinary people. He insisted uniformed services must be allowed to perform their duties without intimidation.
Political context and appeal: Craughwell said the government had erred but warned that repeated motions of no confidence were becoming nonsense. He urged parties to come together with constructive ideas rather than scoring political points, and closed by declaring his unequivocal support for Justin Kelly.
Condemnation of the blockade: Craughwell told the Dáil that while protest is legitimate, the recent blockade of vital national resources crossed a line and constituted an act intended to damage fellow citizens and impede freedom of movement. He criticised those who filmed and harassed members of the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces for merely doing their jobs.
Personal experience recalled: Drawing on his own past, Craughwell recalled being sergeant in charge of a riot platoon at the burial of Frank Stagg 50 years ago, noting that large, angry crowds that day did not attack or intimidate Gardaí on duty. He used that memory to contrast current behaviour toward uniformed services.
Consequences for citizens: He highlighted practical harms from the lockdowns - blocked main streets, denial of access to funerals, cancer care and childcare - arguing these actions punished ordinary people. He insisted uniformed services must be allowed to perform their duties without intimidation.
Political context and appeal: Craughwell said the government had erred but warned that repeated motions of no confidence were becoming nonsense. He urged parties to come together with constructive ideas rather than scoring political points, and closed by declaring his unequivocal support for Justin Kelly.
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Transcript
Go raibh maith agat, Cathaoirleach. Cathaoirleach, over the weekend we had what has been called a protest and last night I watched the Garda Commissioner speaking to the public and to his members about the disgusting retaliation that's been rained down upon members of the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces who did nothing other than to do their job. Now at the end of the day, protest we all support. The blockade of vital national resources is not a protest. It is an act of puggery. It is an act that sets out to damage the citizens of this country who also have the freedom of movement in this country. Let me take an analogy if I may. I was the sergeant in charge of the front section of the riot platoon on the day Frank Stagg was buried 50 years ago. I was surrounded by 15,000 mourners at that day. Angry, angry people over what happened and rightly so. Stagg was allowed to die in jail of starvation. Yet not one of those protesters moved to do any damage to any of us who were in the riot squad that day. No Garda suffered as a result of that on that day. Two Gardaí were on that grave for I think six months after Stagg was buried. Nobody ever did anything to intimidate any of those Gardaí. Now we have a situation where anybody feels they can take up one of these things and spend their time walking around videoing the Garda and then have the audacity to say that they're being badly treated. They blocked the main street of this city. They locked down the city. They denied people the access to funerals, to cancer care, to looking after their young. Maybe the government didn't get it right. We're having a debate currently in the Dáil on a motion of no confidence. I think it's the 12th motion in as many months. It's becoming nonsense. At the end of the day the government got it wrong. I would much prefer to see all parties come together and bring forward their ideas to resolve things rather than taking lumps out of one another for the sake of it. But for God's sake let our uniformed services do their job and how dare anybody try to intimidate them. I support Justin Kelly 100 percent.