Three arrested after immigration protests as Taoiseach rejects message of ‘narrow nationalism'
Thousands attended an anti-immigration protest on Saturday afternoon, which was met by a counter demonstration organised by the group United Against Racism outside the GPO.
There was a significant garda presence along O'Connell Street and Luas services were disrupted as a result.
Gardaí have confirmed that three people were arrested for public order offences as they policed a number of public gatherings in the city centre yesterday afternoon.
"No further information on these arrests is available. No major incidents of note occurred,' a garda spokesperson said.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he 'doesn't accept the negativity from those who spoke yesterday' at the anti-immigration protest in Dublin.
Mr Martin attended the Fianna Fáil 1916 Commemoration at Arbour Hill Cemetery this afternoon.
Speaking at the event, he said: 'I don't accept the negativity from those who spoke yesterday in respect of where modern Ireland is today.'
'The level of opportunity in modern Ireland is far in excess of anything previous generations experienced,' he added.
In a video filmed in the Garden of Remembrance before the protest, MMA fighter Conor McGregor, dressed in a three-piece suit, told those leading the march to 'be calm, be clear, speak with dignity'.
He said it was a protest against 'the failure of the Irish government and our full disapproval of it'.
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As anti-immigration protesters mentioned the housing crisis, Taoiseach said that housing is 'the big social issue of our day' but the Government is 'focused on solutions to that'.
'We just had a general election. We've had a local election before that, and I think the ballot boxes are the key determinant of the organisation of society...who gets elected into Government.
'We believe we have a stronger set of ideas than perhaps those who articulated yesterday.'
During his speech at the event today, Mr Martin said that the '1916 proclamation is an inclusive, internationalist vision, not one that is narrow' and that 'it never had narrow nationalism at its core'.
'We don't believe in a narrow nationalism, and we are part of modern European society. We've been members of the European Union since the early 1970s. It has brought great transformation to the country. We have a thriving economy in Ireland.
'I would be very cautious about those who are advocating – those yesterday and some who would advocate – policies that, in my view, would be detrimental to the future of the country and of our people,' he added.
McGregor, who is appealing the verdict reached by a civil jury last November which found that he sexually assaulted Nikita Hand in the Beacon Hotel in 2018 and awarded her almost €250,000 in damages, has recently signalled his intention to run in the Irish presidential election.
It is unlikely that he will receive sufficient support to appear on the ballot as candidates need to be nominated by 20 members of the Oireachtas or four local authorities.
He was not spotted in the crowd of protestors and he did not return to address the rally when it gathered outside the Custom House.
Dublin City councillors Malachy Steenson, Gavin Pepper and Philip Sutcliffe delivered speeches alongside Fingal councillor Patrick Quinlan, while a number of anti-immigration activists were also present.
Thousands of protestors walked down O'Connell Street, with many carrying tricolour flags and a number wearing green 'Make Ireland Great Again' baseball caps.
Participants held up signs with slogans including 'Irish lives matter', 'Coolock Says No', and 'Ireland is Full'.
One banner featured pictures of McGregor, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Shouts and chants heard during the protest included 'get them out' and 'Ireland for the Irish'.
Both the protest and counter demonstration also chanted: 'Whose streets? Our streets.'
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