Home News

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has thrown a wobbly about the 'protest tourists' who have cost the State over €14.5 million in the last six years at the Corrib gas pipeline protests alone.

The massive bill for policing the protests, which began in 2006, are only for extra costs and do not even include the basic salaries of gardaí.

Shatter blasted some of the protestors, saying: "Such action cannot be tolerated and the Garda presence is there to prevent it.

"At a time when many people are under severe financial pressure because of our very difficult economic circumstances, it is scandalous that some protesters behave in a self indulgent way that has no regard for the rights of others."

But, Shatter stood fully behind Garda spending, saying "this is absolutely necessary in view of the actions of some of the protestors - many of whom are not from the area and who engage in a form of protest tourism - who have engaged in acts of public disorder as well as damage to property."

He also tried to heap the rest of Ireland's woes on the protestors shoulder as well. He told the Dáil: "this type of behaviour runs completely contrary to the public and national interest and furthermore will act as a disincentive to inward investment and the development of our national resources."

Good man Shatter, nothing's the Government fault or responsibility, is it?