Sir, – The treatment of the Tánaiste was not a protest, it was mob rule (“Kenny says protests ‘not about water’”, Front Page, November 17th). In no way was this a peaceful protest. – Yours, etc,
BRONWYN MOLONY,
Clondalkin,
Dublin 22.
Sir, – Having marched against water charges, I am shocked, angry and ashamed at the menacing nature of the protest in Tallaght. People have a democratic right to protest and demonstrate in a peaceful, lawful manner, but they have no right to obstruct or hold captive anyone in a car, much less bang on it in a threatening manner. They may disagree with Government policy but that does not give them the right to intimidate any member of the Dáil.
People claiming rights have a responsibility to act within the law. Those involved should consider that their behaviour was counterproductive to their cause. Many, like myself, who have marched in the past may reconsider doing so in future. I have no wish for anarchy. – Yours, etc,
SORCHA DONNELLY,
Greystones,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – Paul Murphy TD has stated that what happened in Tallaght was a non-violent protest. To be imprisoned in your car is a serious form of violence and a denial of freedom. – Yours, etc,
CLAIRE CONNOLLY,
Ballinasloe,
Co Galway.
Sir, – I suggest that members of the Government began the campaign of frightening and menacing the voters to bully and cajole us on many issues and it is simply chancing its arm to see how much they can bleed from us. Perhaps now the politicians will step back from the abyss, stop their confrontation with the justifiably angry voters and discontinue their bullying of us by actually listening for once. – Yours, etc,
JOHN MALLON,
Mayfield,
Cork.
Sir, – As tempting as it is to belittle the water balloon incident (and all credit to the Tánaiste for her dignified response in such circumstances), it would be very wrong for the Government or political class to sneer at those who throw water balloons and to misunderstand what such incidents mean.
The fact some people felt so angry, so disconnected from the political process, that they felt their only option was to throw a water balloon, or even worse a brick, means those people no longer have any trust in the State to respond to their needs. The political class has no concept of what it’s like to get a water bill, even if it’s €200, when you have €0 in the bank, or of the sheer drudgery of living week to week literally counting every single cent, so they genuinely don’t get it.
But the political class, including the media, would do well to stop to think that such public responses stem from the anger and frustration people feel that despite their sacrifices for the last six years, nothing has changed for them, as they struggle to feed, clothe and house their families.
Maybe the chattering and establishment classes, who think they won’t be affected by rising anger, need to start thinking through the consequences if those angry people actually do go and vote in the coming general election.
They don’t need to win the election, they just need to win more seats than their centre-right and hard-right counterparts. – Yours, etc,
DESMOND FitzGERALD,
Canary Wharf,
London.
Sir, – By now, it must be clear to everyone that Irish society is under attack from a small, tightly organised group of political ideologues who are fanatical in their determination to impose their will on the people.
This group is highly disciplined, secretive, has unlimited funds and access to an army of press advisers and spin-doctors. They have consistently shown their disregard for Dáil procedures and the broad wishes of the Irish people.
The Economic Management Council must be disbanded at once. – Yours, etc,
EUGENE McELDOWNEY,
Howth,
Dublin 13.
Sir, – It is time, I think, that Mr Kenny and Ms Burton took some meaningful measures to alleviate the extreme hardship their parties have created.
The patience of the “little people” has finally ended. – Yours, etc,
IAN KAVANAGH,
Kilmainham,
Dublin 8.
Sir, – Paul Murphy TD sees no problem about encouraging others to indulge in a type of behaviour that flouts the rights of other citizens, whether they be politicians or not, to pass peacefully on their way. How does this accord with his membership of the Dáil and its law-making role?
His attitude is in marked contrast to the dignified way in which over 100,000 people protested throughout the country a few weeks ago against water charges. The debacle of the water charge issue in no way justifies the type of protest Mr Murphy has “no problem” with. – Yours, etc,
PATRICK HOWARD,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 16.
Sir, – Can’t pay for water but can pay for eggs to use as missiles? Some logic! – Yours, etc,
AILEEN HOOPER,
Stoneybatter,
Dublin 7.