Irish PM says threats against politicians serious

Politicians were escorted out of parliament buildings by police on Wednesday

Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar has said the threat level against politicians has risen in recent times.

It comes after politicians and staff were unable to leave the grounds of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) for several hours on Wednesday due to a protest.

Thirteen people have been charged after incidents at the Leinster House.

Mr Varadkar said people were entitled to hold peaceful protests, but what happened on Wednesday was "wrong".

The protests took place outside the building as politicians returned to the Dáil (lower house of parliament) chamber after a summer recess.

TDs (Members of Parliament and senators were escorted out of Leinster House by gardaí (Irish police) due to the demonstrations.

Two men in their 40s have already appeared in court, gardaí said.

A review of security at the Oireachtas has been launched after the incidents.

Speaking from the USA where he is on government business, Mr Varadkar said: "What I saw happening outside Leinster House was not a peaceful protest.

"There was violence, there was intimidation and that was wrong."

He added that garda protection has been restored to government ministers recently, because of a rising trend in violent threats against politicians.

Some protestors brought a gallows with an effigy hanging from it

Wednesday's demonstration included people holding anti-politician placards.

Some protestors brought a makeshift gallows with images of politicians stuck to it and an effigy hanging from the structure.

Mr Vardakar said that while there had always been threats against politicians, increasingly those threats had become more "serious".

The Oireachtas security review is to be led by former Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan.

It is understood to involve police and security staff working in Leinster House and is due to report before the end of the year, Irish broadcaster RTÉ said.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said she had spoken to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris about the protests.

"What we saw yesterday was the intimidation and threatening of elected representatives and members of An Garda Síochána," she said in a statement.

"This has no place in our democracy."

'Serious concerns'

Seán Ó Fearghaíl , Ceann Comhairle (speaker) of the Dáil, said serious concerns had been raised about some aspects of the protests.

Gardaí said a senior investigating officer had been appointed to coordinate and investigate.

A policing operation involving uniformed and plain-clothed officers was put in place to allow the Dáil to sit safely, a spokesperson said.

Fine Gael Senator Barry Ward said he had written to the Garda commissioner asking which steps the force would take to protect Ireland's institutions.

Mr Ward said since the foundation of the Irish state, TDs and senators had the right to attend the Oireachtas.

That right was disrupted on Wednesday, he added.

On Wednesday, Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) Micheál Martin described the actions of those involved as "unacceptable and reprehensible".

He said: "We live in a parliamentary democracy, notwithstanding the flaws in any democracy, there is no need for that sort of behaviour outside Dáil Éireann."

Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe said there was an "urgent" need to look at security but reviews have taken place in Leinster House, which prompted changes to access and entry points.