Vol. 433 No. 7
82 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Justice if new guidelines were given to the gardaí regarding pickets/protest groups at the Kildare Street entrance to Leinster House; and the reason the Irish Council against Blood Sports were moved across the street on Wednesday, 30 June 1993, yet two days later, there were protest groups back on the Leinster House side.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that no new guideline has been given to gardaí in relation to the conduct of protests at the Kildare Street entrance to Leinster House. It is normal practice for small protest groups — which do not impede access to and from the House — to be allowed assemble on the Leinster House side of Kildare Street and for larger groups to assemble on the Molesworth Street side.
In the case of the protest referred to in the question the Garda authorities report that it was initially located at the end of Molesworth Street directly opposite the entrance to Leinster House. However, the protest was allowed on the Leinster House side of Kildare Street as soon as it was found that the number of protestors was smaller than anticipated and would not impede access to and from the House.
