Deputy lord mayor rejects plans to limit marches

Dublin City Council plans to limit marches in the capital were tonight rejected by the deputy Lord Mayor.

Dublin City manager John Fitzgerald proposed at last night’s monthly meeting that the local authority should introduce regulations to limit the right to protest in O’Connell Street.

But deputy Lord Mayor, Bronwen Maher, a Green Party councillor, tonight firmly rejected the plans because she said everybody should have a right to hold peaceful demonstrations in a democracy.

“It is the keystone of any democratic society that citizens have the right to assemble and make peaceful protest,” she said today.

“To propose that councillors should have a vetoing role regarding who has the right to assemble on our streets would set a dangerous precedent.”

Cllr Maher admitted that the riot against the ’Love Ulster’ march last month was extremely serious and the ringleaders must be identified and prosecuted.

But she added: “However it is vitally important that this riot is not used as an excuse to introduce legislation that would infringe on our rights of free assembly and free speech.”

Cllr Maher also said that she was surprised at the level of support in the council chamber for the city manager’s proposal.

“Dublin City Council has already introduced severe restrictions on the display of posters across the city to advertise public meetings and events. What is now being proposed has the potential to restrict peaceful protest and free assembly.

“We must keep the current situation where protest organisers work with An Garda Siochana and City Council officials on public order and safety issues. Marches and demonstrations can only get the go ahead to march once these matters are addressed.”