Richard Boyd Barrett on Palestine Action arrests and protest limits
Richard Boyd Barrett challenged the Taoiseach over arrests in the north and the UK government's designation of Palestine Action, arguing those moves target solidarity with Palestinians and should be opposed. He defended the right to protest while warning against criminal damage and said the State will provide consular support but cannot interfere in another jurisdiction's criminal justice system.
He raised arrests in the north, citing the charging of councillor Sean Harkin in Derry and calling the Starmer government's designation of Palestine Action as a terrorist group "outrageous." He said Palestine Action's stated aim was to disrupt collaboration between the British state and Israeli companies over actions in Gaza.
He noted that embassies provide consular support to Irish citizens on remand or in prison and said he will review the case of Jordan Devlin and seek an update from the ambassador in London. He stressed that while supports are provided, the State cannot interfere in another jurisdiction's criminal justice processes.
He affirmed that the absolute right to protest is "a sacred right" but warned that some elements have crossed legal lines, citing incidents such as ramming buildings, driving through gates, and criminal damage. He said TDs' offices — including his own, which was damaged three times — have been targeted and emphasised the need to be clear about acceptable protest boundaries.
He criticised attempts to stop activity at Dublin Port, noting that 80% of trade in the country goes through the port and warning that disruption would harm workers and the wider economy. He called for such actions to be stopped to protect livelihoods depending on port trade.
On wider civic reform, he stated he does not believe citizens' assemblies are the right way to go. Throughout the exchange he urged the Taoiseach to speak out against arrests related to solidarity actions while recognising the need to distinguish lawful protest from criminal acts.
Arrests and designation of Palestine Action
He raised arrests in the north, citing the charging of councillor Sean Harkin in Derry and calling the Starmer government's designation of Palestine Action as a terrorist group "outrageous." He said Palestine Action's stated aim was to disrupt collaboration between the British state and Israeli companies over actions in Gaza.
Consular support and legal limits
He noted that embassies provide consular support to Irish citizens on remand or in prison and said he will review the case of Jordan Devlin and seek an update from the ambassador in London. He stressed that while supports are provided, the State cannot interfere in another jurisdiction's criminal justice processes.
Lines between protest and criminality
He affirmed that the absolute right to protest is "a sacred right" but warned that some elements have crossed legal lines, citing incidents such as ramming buildings, driving through gates, and criminal damage. He said TDs' offices — including his own, which was damaged three times — have been targeted and emphasised the need to be clear about acceptable protest boundaries.
Dublin Port disruption and economic concerns
He criticised attempts to stop activity at Dublin Port, noting that 80% of trade in the country goes through the port and warning that disruption would harm workers and the wider economy. He called for such actions to be stopped to protect livelihoods depending on port trade.
Citizens' assemblies and final stance
On wider civic reform, he stated he does not believe citizens' assemblies are the right way to go. Throughout the exchange he urged the Taoiseach to speak out against arrests related to solidarity actions while recognising the need to distinguish lawful protest from criminal acts.
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Transcript
Taoiseach I raised with you last week, and I want to do it again because I think it is incredibly important, the issue of people in the north as part of a wider attack by the British government against those standing in solidarity with the people of Palestine and against Israel's genocide in Gaza. The fact that people are being arrested and charged in the north, including one of our own councillors, Sean Harkin in Derry, for indicating support for Palestine action and the outrageous designation by the Starmer government of Palestine action as a terrorist group, when in fact what they have been trying to do is stop Israeli terrorism and genocide by trying to disrupt the ability of the British state and Israeli companies to collaborate with Israel in the genocide on the people of Palestine. It is happening in the north. Arrests are taking place. There was a protest this weekend where people declared their support for Palestine action. It should not be a chargeable offence and you should speak out against it. Arrest. In terms of the issues around Palestine action, first of all, our embassies and so on provide whatever consular supports any Irish citizen who is on remand or who is in prison. We always provide whatever supports we can or whatever assistance, but we obviously cannot interfere in the criminal justice system. So again, I will review that case of Jordan Devlin and I will ask again our ambassador in London in terms of an update in respect of it. I have no issue with people, obviously I don't, in terms of supporting Palestinians. I do have an issue, and I'm not saying this happened here in these cases at all, I don't know the full detail of the cases, but I do have read recently of a case where there was a ramming of a building in London. It's not all black and white as you have articulated. Or even here where people drive through gates and barriers and do criminal damage. TDs' offices have had criminal damage by, I would say, more extreme elements of people who were involved in supporting Palestinian movement. It's true. My own office was damaged three times. I know other TDs whose offices were damaged. Is that acceptable? Is that legitimate protest? No, it's not. Because when there are people working in those offices, they don't think it's legitimate. All I'm saying is we all have to be clear on the demarcation line. I'm not familiar with the individual cases here in terms of the alleged crimes and so on. But let's not try and pretend that everything is just all one way. One thing I do know is that either on the far right or on the far left people do transgress the lines. Let's not pretend they don't. They have in this country in the past. There clearly are other issues in the UK and so on like that. And look, some people were trying to stop Dublin Port the other day. Tishek, I don't know if you intend to take any other questions. Well, they shouldn't be trying to stop. Please. Deputy Murphy. 80% of trade in this country goes through Dublin Port. And you guys want to wreck it. There's bread on the table. Workers depend on trade going through Dublin Port. Workers all over the country. And as far as you are concerned, let's stop it in its tracks. So there are demarcation lines that we have to be very clear about. Absolute right to protest is a sacred right in this country, the right to protest. We should cherish it. We should never do anything to damage it. Nor should others do anything to damage it either. Deputy Patrick, I think I've dealt with that issue in terms of my general response. I don't believe citizens assemblies is the right way to go.