Sharon Keogan: Questions Over Defence Forces Deployment
Sharon Keogan addresses the Seanad about the deployment of Defence Forces to a recent field protest and the wider response to demonstrators, asking why extraordinary measures were used and whether proportionality was observed. She also challenges the casual use of the label "far-right" and defends the tricolour as belonging to all Irish people.
Main points: In the Seanad, Keogan demanded answers about why the Minister for Justice applied the Defence Forces, whether the Minister for Defence was consulted, and what standards governed the decision. She questioned the proportionality of the response and warned of damage to the State's reputation both domestically and internationally.
On labels and public debate: Keogan criticised the use of the "far-right" label to dismiss or silence protesters, arguing that the term is often used recklessly and without proper understanding of what genuine far-right ideology is. She said such branding poisons public debate and prevents engagement with legitimate grievances.
Flag and national identity: Keogan defended the Irish tricolour as a symbol owned by every Irish person of every creed and colour. She rejected the idea that any one group can claim the flag, noting its use across the political spectrum and in civic life.
Implications and consequences: The speech calls for clarity from Ministers and for proper standards on use of extraordinary measures, while warning that missteps will have reputational consequences for the State. Keogan urged colleagues to engage with concerns rather than resort to labels that shut down discussion.
Main points: In the Seanad, Keogan demanded answers about why the Minister for Justice applied the Defence Forces, whether the Minister for Defence was consulted, and what standards governed the decision. She questioned the proportionality of the response and warned of damage to the State's reputation both domestically and internationally.
On labels and public debate: Keogan criticised the use of the "far-right" label to dismiss or silence protesters, arguing that the term is often used recklessly and without proper understanding of what genuine far-right ideology is. She said such branding poisons public debate and prevents engagement with legitimate grievances.
Flag and national identity: Keogan defended the Irish tricolour as a symbol owned by every Irish person of every creed and colour. She rejected the idea that any one group can claim the flag, noting its use across the political spectrum and in civic life.
Implications and consequences: The speech calls for clarity from Ministers and for proper standards on use of extraordinary measures, while warning that missteps will have reputational consequences for the State. Keogan urged colleagues to engage with concerns rather than resort to labels that shut down discussion.
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Transcript
Seanad Éireann, Seanad Comhairle, Cathaoirleach, Leader, much has been said in this house about the field protest but today I want to reflect briefly on both the protests themselves and the response to them. The deployment of our defence forces, serious and worrying questions remain unanswered. Why did the Minister for Justice apply the defence forces? Was the Minister of Defence consulted? Where was the principle of proportionality in that response? Are there no standards operating procedure to ensure that extraordinary measures are used only when absolutely necessary? And we must also ask what damage this decision has done to our reputation, to our state, not only at home but internationally. I also want to address the comments made in this chamber suggesting that protesters should be dismissed or condemned by association with the vague and ever-expanding label of the so-called far-right and that this label is justified simply because people wave our national flag. These are words that poison the public debate in our country. Too often people are branded far-right not to describe them but to silence them, to delegitimize grievances without engaging with them. Those who casually use this label would do better to educate themselves on what genuinely far-right ideology actually is before throwing the term around so recklessly. And as for our tricolour, it belongs to all the Irish people. It has been flown by every shade of opinion and every kind of group, by extremist parliamentary militaries, by our state forces, by the left and the right and even by sports fans. Never at any point in our history have we surrendered it to any one group, nor will we. Our national flag is a symbol of both our uniqueness and our unity. It was not flown by our founders for it to belong to any one special with approved opinions or credentials. It belongs to every Irish man and woman of every creed and every colour and every opinion, whether we like it or not. And you, Chairperson and Leader, know that more than anybody. So thank you for the work that you have done over the years in relation to our flag and our tricolour.