Mick Wallace highlighting Corrib in Dáil discussion on Garda Reform

by interested observer Sun Jun 01, 2014 09:51

I totally agree that the people of rossport have the right to protest..........but I have never seen one single piece of proof that the protesters represent a majority of the people of rossport mayo or ireland. How many protesters are there in total compered to the population of the state, how many protesters are from Mayo compered to the total population of Mayo. Where is the mandate for these protesters, where do they get the right to block public roads, if the majority of the people of this state didnt want Shell drilling for gas and brining it onshore then it must stand to reason that our elected representives would reflect that and stop this operation but even in the recent local elections, political groups who argee with the Shell operation or at least dont come out against it were in the majority both in Mayo and Ireland.

People can protest and I will always defend the right to express ones opinion even when it is totally opposied to mine on whatever topic but what is happening in rossport is the work of a minority who do nt seem to have a mandate, One can say the same for the use of Shannon by US military aircraft, 300/400 protesters on a monthly basis do not amount to a majority across the country

I have no doubt that you wont let this post be published as it does not agree with your viewpoint which if deleted will prove that freedom of speech is not allowed on this site.

by Ratatoskr Mon Jun 02, 2014 12:47

The actual physical act of protesting is usually carried out by a minority and these issues are always going to attract career protestors as well as the local people. Throughout history it has been small groups of mavericks and often eccentric individuals who have raised awarness and changed the status quo, the plain fact of the matter is that a lot of people are either too conservative or simply don't care enough about certain issues to protest. Ignorance also comes into it in that there's a section of our population that will only believe what they see on the six o'clock news and alternative opinions come from 'looney lefties' or serial contrarians. Irish people have been brain washed for years in this respect and not everyone has the energy or motivation to research or agitate on important issues. Then there's a section of people who are so hypnotised by the prospect of jobs at at any cost that they are willing to block out any potential dangers. Sometimes the heavy lifting is left to a concerned minority unfortunately and I think history will judge them well in the case of the Corrib protest.

Leaving the issue of majority support aside the way that the Gardaí have behaved in Corrib is disgraceful and is indicative of a deep systemic problem in the organisation that some of us have experienced in our own families stretching back decades. It also tarnishes the decent Gardai that want to serve their community and country. This crisis is an opportunity to become a world leader in creating an accountable independently monitored police force that doesn't promote and protect what are basically thugs to positions of power where they can bully and carry out personal agendas with impunity. These types will always gravitate towards the power that being in a police force can give but with a strong, vigilant, monitoring body they can be weeded out and exposed for what they are. The state doesn't like to be scritinised and it often retaliates with obfuscation and hostility, the permanent government are the real power players and we need to keep poking the fire while it's still hot to at least try and change the the culture in this country. Fair play to Mick Wallace and his colleagues for the work they've done so far.