Taoiseach: Politics has become more coarse, divisive, and dangerous in recent years

Taoiseach Simon Harris said that 'too often, we have seen politicians targeted at the houses by angry mobs'. Picture: Sasko Lazarov/ RollingNews.ie

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said politics has become “more coarse, more divisive, and more dangerous” for elected representatives in recent years.

It comes after a bomb scare at Justice Minister Helen McEntee’s home last week, as well as protests outside the home of Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman.

Mr Harris said that, too often, elected representatives from all sides of the political spectrum have been abused and attacked.

The abuse of politicians by “angry mobs” must be taken seriously before the “unthinkable happens”, the Taoiseach has warned.

“Too often we have seen politicians targeted at their houses by angry mobs,” he said.

“Too often have we seen our country’s elected representatives afraid of what might happen to them or their families.

“We know how this story ends. We have had too many warnings, and we need to take them seriously before the unthinkable happens.”

The Taoiseach was addressing the 50th anniversary of senator Billy Fox, who was shot dead by the IRA.

Last Wednesday, Ms McEntee’s family — including her two young children — were forced to evacuate their home in Meath, after gardaí received a bomb threat. The minister was not at home at the time.

The threat was reportedly made from a location in Cork, and gardaí continue to investigate the matter.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee’s home had to be evacuated last Wednesday over a bomb threat. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

In a statement, An Garda Síochána said that it does not comment on security details relating to individual State officials or Government ministers, and does not comment on the detail of ongoing criminal investigations.

The threat has been widely condemned across the political spectrum. As well as protests outside a number of ministers’ homes, security has been bolstered at Leinster House after a number of arrests were made during a protest last September.

Mr Harris said the abuse we are seeing is an affront to our values and an attack on our democracy, designed to silence different points of view, stifle debate, and strangle dialogue.

“These attacks also intimidate future leaders from entering politics and advocating for change. We all suffer as a result,” the Taoiseach said.

Mr Harris has promised that the Government will “use the full measure of the law”, including rolling out further measures if needed, to protect our democracy by clamping down on what he described as the far-right and the far-left.

We will not allow the far-right or the far-left to threaten, intimidate, or worse

Mr Harris said the gardaí must also be protected.

“The public revulsion whenever your members are attacked shows the Irish people do not accept and will not accept attacks on Gardaí — neither will I or this Government.”

He added that better civic dialogue is also required to encourage a return to civilised debate in our country.

“We need to stand up to the bullies, but we also need to persuade them about why they need to stand down,” he said.

“The darkest chapters of our history — North and South — have taught us that there can never be healing without the truth, there can never be a fresh start without justice.”