Joan Burton determined not to hide away from voters

The Tánaiste says people who try and prevent politicians from engaging with voters are doing a disservice to democracy.

Joan Burton's comments come after a number of protests against Government Ministers at public events, and last month the Spanish Prime Minister was punched in the face while on the election campaign trail.

The Labour leader says she's determined not to hide away from voters in the upcoming election.

"I make a point of going out and talking to people.

"I enjoy very much as a politician doing that and I think people who would seek to prevent myself, or any other democratic politician, from being able to speak to people in the traditional Irish way - which is close-up, personal and intimate - I think they're doing a great disservice to democracy."