Workers on public transport need to be protected from anti-maskers
- The Minister for Justice must ask the Gardaí to intervene and use the additional powers they have been given
Labour Transport Spokesperson Duncan Smith has said that workers need to be protected from anti-maskers
Deputy Smith was speaking after a number of disturbing videos appeared on social media showing anti-mask protestors intimidating commuters on public transport in recent days.
Deputy Smith said:
“I am very concerned about the safety of frontline workers and all users of public transport following yesterday’s disturbing scenes whereby anti-mask protestors tried to intimidate workers travelling on the LUAS red line. I am particularly concerned given that this LUAS line serves St James hospital and Heuston station.
“ The vast majority of Irish people are working hard to adhere to difficult Level 5 restrictions in order to protect each other and reduce the spread of this virus”.
“Given that the public health advice dictates that only essential workers should use public transport to travel for work, the passengers intimated by yesterday’s anti-mask protestors were all essential workers. This cannot be allowed to happen again. Not only are these so called ‘protestors’ endangering frontline workers, but they are preying on vulnerable people spreading anti-science and untruths.
“We have given the Government significant necessary additional powers to preserve public health. These people cannot be allowed to attempt this again. The Minister for Justice must ask the Gardaí to intervene and use the additional powers they have been given to ensure that if a ‘protest’ like this is attempted again that the perpetrators will be stopped and held to account.