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THE TAOISEACH HAS said no extra security detail has been added after a series of protests at his home in recent weeks.
In an interview with TheJournal.ie this week, the Taoiseach said:
“I haven’t added any extra security. It is the Garda Commissioner that makes those calls.”
He added that he is not proposing any changes to security operations.
Two protests have taken place outside the apartment complex where Leo Varadkar lives in Castleknock. On one of the occasions, the Taoiseach was abroad, attending the EU-Arab League summit.
Concerns about Cabinet members’ security was first raised after a group of protesters gathered outside Health Minister Simon Harris’ home in Co Wicklow.
Harris, his wife Caoimhe and newborn daughter Saoirse were inside the house in Greystones at the time.
The protesters, from Fingal Battalion Direct Action Group, Wicklow Says No and the Anti-Eviction Flying Column, left the scene peacefully after gardaí arrived.
Since then, protests have also taken place outside Communications Minister Richard Bruton’s home, as well as the home of Junior Minister Paul Kehoe.
It was reported that a review of Cabinet members’ security was to take place after the protests.
No changes to security
However, Varadkar told TheJournal.ie that he will not be proposing any changes to security operations.
“I have security as Taoiseach, as does the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice. But the vast majority of ministers don’t have security – that was taken away during the financial crisis to save money. We are not proposing to change that,” he said.
“My general view for protests outside anyone’s home is that they are inappropriate,” he said, adding that they are “inappropriate”.
“For me it is really that my neighbours shouldn’t have to be disturbed,” he said, adding that it is not fair on politicians’ friends and family to be bothered by such protests.
Speaking about his own neighbours, he said “it is not their fault I live in the same apartment block as them, and I regret any inconvenience caused to the people who live in the same apartment complex as me”.
In his view, the numbers that protest outside politicians’ homes are small, and they should not be given any attention, by the media or others.
“They are probably getting more attention than they should,” he concluded.
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Dublin City Council, you guys need this. Pronto.
Dublin city council, Needs public Toilets pronto
Exactly Francis. No point giving out about public urination if there are no public toilets available at 1 am when all the pubs close.
Too many junkies in Dublin to have any public toilets.
What you want is for the lamp post to collect the piss and spray it back out a bit higher over the perp’s head. And let out a little chuckle….
Jeepers. That might piss off a few people!
We need that in Dublin ASAP the amount of dirty drunk men who urinate on the streets is unbelievable…I would love to see a judge get them to wash the streets for punishment.
That’s right Denise, it won’t work for the dirty drunken women who urinate on the street as they ‘hover’.
Very true John. I’ve seen plenty of young ladies hunker down and let go after a busy nights drinking.
and drunk women pissing on footpaths
Where can i buy that paint for the house
Can I have that paint for school toilets so kids can learn to aim correctly not on the walls, seat, floor. Can you paint it on the seat & floor???? I hope there are parents reading this article & teach your kids how to aim correctly.
piss at an angle. flawed system
or just take your shoes off first
if you take a slash at an angle away from your body you’ll be grand
Dublin City could do with this. Mind you we will now have to send a minister on a jaunt to see how it works.
No, the council could do with opening some public toilets.
Múnfaidh sé sin iad!
Heh!Heh!Heh! Punster ceart tré mhean na Gaeilge! An múinteoir tusa?
múntóir agus i mo dhalta i gcónaí! ;)
This story is so old it has whiskers. Are any Journal staff on social media?
what another scam people fall for any oul codswallop when people are drunk they piss on there shoes and pants either way no matter what paints on the wall
Just piss on the ground.
Did ted from the lab in the naked gun invent this?
If only you’d written the same article 2 months ago!
Ah c’mon San Francisco – you are taking the piss now….?
Should that not be “The new paint is spraying off”
gee “whizz”
have your say