Letters to the Editor: Protests create a shift in political landscape

One reader writes in to say the departure of the two Healy-Raes and the emergence of younger deputies finding their voices signals a realisation that the social contract is nearing — or has already reached — a breaking point

Independent Ireland TD Michael Collins shakes hands with fuel protest spokesman James Geoghegan outside Leinster House, Dublin, where protesters gathered last Tuesday. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

Something fundamental shifted in the Irish political landscape following the recent protests. The government’s vulnerabilities have been brutally exposed, and the long-standing accusations of a detached, aloof leadership were confirmed within the Dáil.

We were treated to the appalling vista of Taoiseach Micheál Martin attempting to gaslight the Irish electorate, claiming the government has done “everything they possibly could”.

Simultaneously, Tánaiste Simon Harris blamed social media algorithms for the optics of the unrest — a hollow defence from a man who has built his career as an “affix” of those very platforms. If the narrative was being lost to the algorithms, one must ask: why did he not use his own significant digital reach to provide a counter-narrative of substance?

The departure of the two Healy-Raes from the government’s voting ranks and the emergence of younger deputies finally finding their voices signals a realisation that the social contract is nearing — or has already reached — a breaking point. I contend the contract is now officially broken.

What struck me most in the news coverage was how deeply I could relate to those involved. These were not the “hard-right fascists” the government narrative often leans on; these were ordinary, hard-working people reminiscent of those I grew up with in the country. They feel their backs are against the wall and, most dangerously for any administration, they feel they have nothing left to lose.

The venom Micheál Martin directed at Mary Lou McDonald only served to highlight a leader who appears increasingly unfit for office. Furthermore, my own stance on Independent candidates has changed. By propping up this failing government, they have signed a Faustian pact that hurts the very people they represent. You simply no longer know what you are getting with an Independent vote.

Lines have been crossed and a new chapter in Irish society has opened. Irish people are finding a voice previously associated with more activist cultures such as France. It is time for this Government to truly listen before it is too late — not just for their polling numbers, but for the stability of our country. If they cannot reconnect with the people they are supposed to serve, they must stand down and allow others to take the reins.

Killian Brennan

Malahide Rd, Dublin 17

Martin was right in reaction to protests

Those of us who served our time in farming will have little difficulty recognising the vital importance of fuel prices and the crucial impact it has on farming sustainability. This is why the fuel protest for the first two days had my full support. However, for some reason, for the following three days the protest, which was meant to be conducted within the law of the land, unfortunately changed. This led to crucial infrastructures including access to Ireland’s only oil refinery and access to ports in Foynes and Galway being obstructed.

Clearly, from a government perspective, obstructing access to our only refinery, in addition to ports in Foynes and Galway was dangerously close to anarchy, which could deny a huge percentage of the Irish population essential fuel for their vehicles. Understandable, as head of government, the Taoiseach responded strongly against the protest, stating it was “unconscionable that a protest about the price of fuel was now obstructing fuel getting in to the country”.

He also said Ireland was on the “precipice of turning oil away from the country in the middle of a global oil supply problem” describing it as “unconscionable, illogical, and difficult to comprehend”.

It seems extraordinary that “for his trouble”, the Taoiseach is now facing ridicule from some of his Fianna Fáil backbenchers for over reacting to the protesters and using unpolite commentary when condemning the blockade of the ports and the oil refinery.

Maybe the Fianna Fáil backbenchers have some other reason for criticising the Taoiseach, however condemning him for trying to prevent near-anarchy is hardly a sustainable reason for their criticism.

Diarmuid Cohalan

Ballinhassig, Co Cork

Protests unjustified

An Taoiseach was under pressure from his own party for his response to the fuel protests.

Yet the Taoiseach responded in the only responsible way by refusing to deal with self professed spokespersons for the ad-hoc groups that started the protests.

An Garda Síochána showed admiral restraint and no martyrs were added to the cause. They took only action to remove blockades to essential supplies.

This Iranian crisis is only a few weeks old and the Government had prepared an initial package and were preparing a second package in response to a developing situation. The protesters jumped the gun and were on the streets before the situation was fully ascertained.

Yet this is seen as a disaster for the Government. The protesters are seen as both heroes and victims.

The real heroes were the gardaí, and the real victims were the people who were trying to go about their daily lives despite the obstacles put in their way.

Many of the protesters had significant problems but the wide acceptance of the justification of their actions is frightening. Especially so if it acceptable within one of the government parties.

Jack Coughlan

Skibbereen, Co Cork

Allianz sponsorship of championships

As supporters across the 32 counties pay the admission fee to watch games in the provincial and All-Ireland football and hurling championships, they will be greeted with Allianz signage around the various county grounds.

When you look at this signage, you should consider the role Allianz has played in the genocide in Gaza over this past two and a half years. More than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed (the majority babies, children, and women). More than a million people have had their homes destroyed and are living in tents. Every school, college, and university has been destroyed. Every hospital and medical centre has been destroyed or damaged by Israeli missiles. Thousands of Palestinian children have been orphaned and thousands more are amputees. Since a so- called ceasefire in October 2025, more than 700 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli Occupying Forces.

President Herzog of Israel said “Israeli bonds were critical to their war effort in Gaza”. Allianz is the largest private investor in Israeli bonds (almost $1bn). Allianz doubled investments across 16 complicit defence companies supplying Israel in 2024, including Elbit, Caterpillar, and Thyssenkrupp. It holds $7.3bn in shares and bonds implicated in the genocide as identified in the UN report in the economy of genocide.

The GAA rightly deemed partnerships with alcohol and gambling companies to be unethical and contracts were duly terminated. Surely, genocide is the crime of crimes.

Gaels against Genocide in Gaza will continue to demand that the GAA hierarchy terminate their sponsorship of our national competitions by Allianz. We applaud the moral and ethical decision of the Irish National Teachers Organisation who voted overwhelming recently to get rid of Allianz as the sponsor of Cumann na mBunscol competitions.

Supporters attending championship matches should publicly demonstrate their opposition to Allianz signage inside our grounds.

Players receiving man-of-the-match awards — or managers/coaches — taking part in television interviews before or after matches should only participate in those interviews without any Allianz signage in the background.

Michael Doherty

Gaels against Genocide in Gaza

via email

PSC as form of ID

Plans to extend the use of public services card (PSC) was described as ‘concerning’ by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) and Digital Rights Ireland (DRI).

This was in response to a proposal by social protection minister Dara Calleary to allow a PSC to be used as a form of identity.

This sounds like a very sensible idea to me especially when I am trying to open an account in my bank where I have to dig out my passport as a form of identity.

Personally I think all citizens should carry some form of identity and the PSC would be ideal when you consider the many thousands of immigrants we now have in the country.

I think the ICCL and the DRI are just justifying their existence in this instance. As far as I’m concerned, if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear.

The PSC would also be very useful to An Garda Síochána in positively identifying individuals when investigating a crime.

John Fair

Castlebar, Co Mayo

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