Tanaiste says democracy under threat in face of ‘militancy’

Tanaiste Micheal Martin (Brian Lawless/PA)

The Tanaiste has voiced concerns about growing “militancy” of groups in Ireland who he accused of attempting to characterise the Government as a regime that needs to be overthrown.

Micheal Martin said democracy was under threat amid an increasing level of “viciousness and violence and lack of respect for the basic laws of the land and for those who help to enforce those laws and maintain those laws”.

Mr Martin made the comments as he condemned scenes of disorder in Co Wicklow on Thursday evening when Garda members were attacked as a protest at a site earmarked for asylum seeker accommodation turned violent.

“We as a society have to make it very clear as a government and as a society that we will not tolerate any infringement on people going about their daily work, and in particular will not accept attacks on members of An Garda Siochana,” he told reporters in Dublin.

“Members of An Garda Siochana are the key to a democratic society and to cohesion of a democratic society and what we are witnessing is unacceptable.

“And we will give every support that we have to the gardai in the light of what is without question an increasing level of viciousness and violence and lack of respect for the basic laws of the land and for those who help to enforce those laws and maintain those laws, An Garda Siochana.”

Mr Martin said the Government would discuss at cabinet level if further support was needed for the Garda.

“I think there’s a fundamental point in terms of where Irish society is going and the level of commentary, the coarseness of the commentary, the abuse, the violent nature of that commentary and now, as we see, in actions as well, that threatens our democracy, that threatens the way of life,” he added.

“We have challenges, we have pressures, and we have pressure from migration, we know that, (but) this isn’t tolerable.”

Asked about threads on social media agitating for civil conflict, Mr Martin expressed concern.

“I’m very, very concerned about that type of language and that type of militancy that is emerging among some groups,” he said.

“But I’m very clear that the vast, vast majority of Irish people want nothing to do with that and oppose that.

“We’ve got to reflect the views of the vast majority of people who want civil order, who want our gardai protected and they want the gardai to be allowed to do their daily duties unhindered.

“So, the obligation of government is to support the democratic will of the people in respect of the upholding of basic law and order and civil order and how we do things.

“And we understand the challenges and pressures and many local communities and many people out there who have legitimate concerns and legitimate interests that they’re entitled to raise.”

But he said some threads that he has seen described the Government as a “regime to be overthrown”.

“We’re going to have to stand up to that,” he added.