Dublin dail protests - read OP before posting

Where was this poll done? What were the demographics of the participants?

All the groups.

Of course not.

Only in fantasy is tripe like that happening.

The whole thing stood out for it's ambiguety. I wondered whether this was that the sinister element involved in these protests was also suggested to behind many of the protests at the refugee centres and at politicians homes (and probably embrace the online, fascist, conspiracy lunacy of the Gemma O'Doherty fringe) so that there was a collective decision by the media not to give them any further publicity or oxygen than absolutely necessary.

But also these is the possibility that the fact that the main stream media, as well as TD's of all hues and staff of Leinster House were all targeted by this mob under an anti-establishment guise, may have prevented or handicapped the media in the extent of its coverage (although I defer in this context to the perseverance and capability of the hard nosed press corp attached to Leinster House in their ability to do their job)

Either way there is a lot of reading between the line as to exactly what element were involved, without it being specifically spelt out, beyond the use of phrases like "thugs" and "mob"

One thing that did occur to me, even though I only caught the end of his Morning Ireland interview, was the typical thick bull headed stubborn attitude of Michael Healy Rae, to effectively dive into and further incite the howling mob, just to perpetuate his carefully cultured image of a "man of the people" working for his constituents and for the country, in spite of all the challenges and naysayers against him. It was all good and well for him as an individual to take such a selfish decision but did he give any consideration to the gardai escort that had to protect him against the inflamed mob (His incitement doesn't help when he goes on the radio afterwards and suggests rightly or wrongy that the protesters need to get jobs or go out and do an honest days work), or more significantly to the 20 year old intern, apparently fresh of the plane from the US who obviously felt compelled to follow him and had her mobile phone stolen for her trouble.

Finally, my final though on the whole matter, whilst I in no way condone the manner or the thrust of yesterdays protests (and yes if they do believe in democracy let them put forwards some election candidates and see how much real support they have), is that perhaps it is time that the hallowed insulated halls of the sanctuary that is Leinster House had some indication of the anger that is abroad there amongst a considerable swathe of the population (not that yesterdays protesters by any means are representive of that anger) about a whole variety of issues from health to housing to agriculture to uncontrolled cost of living increases. There was something almost comic in the indignation of the politicians in being assailed or confronted by the filthy protesting peasants when they were busy trying to run the country.

I'm not making accuses for anyone, but the reality is if things get out of hand, thats what the public order unit is for. We're a very sheltered nation, a few people shouting abuse and mouthing off. People getting in panic and the media loosing the run of themselves. Only looking to compare it to the capital hill riots. Look at the protests in other European countries and see how lucky and peaceful we have it here.

8th December is not a day off & I have never gone shopping on the 8th, nor do I know anybody that has, for the vast majority of this country that is also just another day.

Dismiss it all you want and try ignore it, this isn’t going away.

Totally agree.

I worked in the department of education for a while, plenty of peaceful protests outside in that time. Scumbags involved just look at the pictures of the people involved (the usual muppets) and the video of Michael Healy Rae.

So you don't realise we have black friday sales too?

Tbf these protests attract professional English protestors to "fight" as a paytriot of Ireland.

And her work suit was at the dry cleaners.

Clever.

Rent a mob protest it all seems far too organised people accosting a small number of politicians and a mention of the very tragic situation of Jo Cox but not really anything of January 6th in the US or similar attacks on political institutions the mass mobilisation of Garda on any other return day for The Dail probably wouldn't be as large but there would be a presence as so many TD and Senators being in the Chambers and grounds doesn't happen more than a few times a term or even the year.

Tldr: Mountains out of Molehills with opportunistic words by small time politicians.