Protecting politicians at heart of democracy

AS tributes continue to pour in from around the world following the tragic death of Labour MP Jo Cox, the police in Britain and presumably the gardaí here are grappling with the question of how they can improve the security of politicians in the front line of democracy.

The profoundly sad and untimely death of the fledgling MP, one of the brightest young stars in the political firmament and a seasoned human rights activist, brings home to us all just how vulnerable are those we elect to represent us in parliament.

In this country, the traditional way has always been for TDs to mingle freely and comfortably, face to face with the public at large. And yet, in recent times we had the alarming spectacle of the car in which former Tánaiste Joan Burton was travelling, being blocked and rocked by an unruly mob of water protestors. Ms Burton had to be rescued by the gardaí.