Anti-immigration protests have been heating up in Dublin, with the police pushing the demonstrators backwards up the street.
Banners reading “Erin Go Bragh” and “You’ll Never Beat the Irish” were visible among the crowd as GB News Ireland reporter Dougie Beattie reported from the scene.
“The Garda and the police service have moved in and have made several arrests of these protesters,” Beattie reported.
He observed: “These are middle class people… everyday working class people. And they are being pushed up the road by the Garda.”
Dougie Beattie was told “you are going to get arrested” whilst reporting at the protests
GB News
Beattie highlighted the protesters’ frustrations, stating: “They want to be heard. They marched up to the door today at that protest to let the parliamentarians hear what their problems were.”
The situation intensified as Beattie continued reporting, with someone shouted behind him: “You are going to be arrested for not moving forward.”
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Beattie noted the uniqueness of his position: “There’s no other media standing where I’m standing.”
“They just want a voice. And instead they’re being marched down the street like this.”
GB News host Martin Daubney warned him: “Now, you’d be careful there, Dougie, because I was at a protest at the Cenotaph at Westminster.
“I found myself momentarily handcuffed just for doing exactly the same job as you’re doing there.”
Protesters waved the Irish flag
GB News
The anti-immigration protests come amid broader debates on Ireland’s immigration policies.
Recent polls show shifting political landscapes, with Fine Gael gaining support under Taoiseach Simon Harris’s firmer stance on immigration.
The Irish government is considering charging working asylum seekers up to €238 per week for accommodation, food, and services like WiFi.
This move aligns with practices in other European countries such as France, Germany, and Spain.
Police formed a line to push the protesters backwards
GB News
Ireland has seen a significant increase in asylum seekers, with numbers nearly doubling in the first half of this year compared to 2023.
This surge has contributed to tensions, including protests and anti-migrant arson attacks across the country.
Heavy-duty barriers were also erected to keep protesters away from Leinster House.
The anti-immigration protesters directed chants at political parties, including “Sinn Féin are traitors” and “Fine Gael are traitors”.
