Gardaí escort TDs to safety amid demonstration outside Leinster House as Dáil resumes

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

TDs and Senators had to be escorted from Leinster House, amid protests outside the Dail today.

There's been widespread condemnation of the demonstration which was described as intimidating.

Protesters have brought mock gallows and photographs of high-profile politicians to a demonstration outside Leinster House ahead of the Dáil’s return.

The gallows, which feature an effigy of a man hanging from a noose, has been adorned with portraits of politicians including Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald.

Images of Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney, Minister for Education Norma Foley and Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman also accompany the display.

Depictions of opposition TDs including Eoin Ó Broin from Sinn Féin and Solidarity-People Before Profit deputies Paul Murphy and Brid Smith also feature.

Around 200 people gathered outside Leinster House, where the main entrance was fenced off by gardaí, on Wednesday as part of what has become a traditional day of protest ahead of the return of the Dáil session.

Far-right protesters shouted various chants against transgender rights, migration and planned hate speech laws.

Politicians and journalists entering the Leinster House premises were called “traitors” by the gathered crowd.

Demonstrators held signs featuring slogans such as “Irish lives matter” and “Ballybrack says no”.

*Closure Notice 20.09.23* With access difficulties due to an ongoing protest, the Main Kildare Street Campus (Yeats Exhibition, Main and Family History Reading Rooms and Ticket Office) will be closed to the public today. Apologies for the inconvenience caused.

— National Library of Ireland (@NLIreland) September 20, 2023

The protesters regularly chanted: “You’ll never beat the Irish.”

Two men have been arrested under the public order act and charged to appear in court.

The nearby National Library of Ireland shut as a result of the protest.

More than a dozen cars are being prevented from leaving the grounds of Leinster House due to the protest.

Demonstrators are standing across the Merrion Street entrance.

The protest started from 10am on Kildare Street but has since moved to the entrance on the other side of the Government building.

Gardai are attending.