Ryan condemns intimidation of water protesters

Workers’ Party Dublin councillor Éilis Ryan has condemned the intimidation of water protesters by private security firms working for Irish Water and has said the failure of the company and its agents to respond to queries and complaints from local representatives was completely unacceptable

 

Councillor Ryan, who represents the North Inner City Ward,  submitted an emergency motion to Dublin City Council last Monday night’s (Feb 2^nd) condemning the intimidation of water protestors by private security firms.  However her motion was ruled out of order on the ground that it “did not relate to the running of the council”.   The issue was definitely the business of Dublin City Council, she said.   The motion had been supported by Cllrs. Cieran Perry, Paul Hand, Brid Smith and People Before Profit councillors, and the Anti-Austerity Alliance’s Michael O’Brien.

The motion read: “The Council condemns the levels of intimidation and harassment of local residents by private security firms operating on behalf of Irish Water and its contractors in the past fortnight in the Broadstone and Dorset Street areas. This has included the unauthorised photographing of children, shouting at protestors at extremely close distance, use of the names of protestors by unidentified private security agents, and insulting remarks by private security agents about the physical appearance of residents. “

“The Council in particular condemns the failure by private security operators to produce ID when requested by local residents, and their active concealment of their identity by wearing balaclavas, sunglasses, in particular. “

In view of the failure of both Irish Water and private security firms to respond to queries on the matter from local representatives, the Council calls on the Lord Mayor to make a representation to Irish Water, calling on Irish Water to,
– Publicly identify all private security operators working for it, or its contractors;
– Carry out a publicly review into complaints repeatedly raised in relation to the actions of these firms;
– Establish an address mechanism through which local residents and representatives can in the future make complaints regarding the actions of Irish Water’s contractors”.

“The motion will now be taken up with the city’s main Joint Policing Committee.”