Gardai have reportedly written an informal letter to the Occupy Dame Street camp about the forthcoming three day St. Patrick's Festival.
The letter mentions previously expressed Garda and fire safety concerns about the number of wooden pallets.
The letter mentions previously expressed Garda and fire safety concerns about the number of wooden pallets.
It goes on to request that the camp be removed to facilitate safety and egress for the large numbers of people expected in the area of the camp at Festival time.
The letter requests a response by March 3rd and makes no mention of reinstating the camp after the festival.
In responses to the Garda letter, the ODS Facebook page featured some comments expressing a belligerent attitude. But these were tempered by other's assurances that the safety issues would be addressed - without saying how or when.
Relations between the Garda and the protesters have in the main been cordial, aided by the respect the Central Bank governor has accorded the Occupy right to protest.
It would serve the Occupy movement well to ensure all these good relations are maintained. A significant deal of public support would vanish if the protesters and Garda became adversaries.
Furthermore, these fire safety issues referred to in the Garda letter were notified to the group some weeks ago - but though discussions have taken place, the issues are still unresolved. That's not to be critical of under resourced protesters - just a statement of fact.
The fire safety issues are serious matters - irrespective of the upcoming festival. The Dame St. camp is a highly concentrated enclosure of mostly flammable material. The camp has a responsibility to it's own members -as well as the public- to resolve these concerns. Garda and fire safety officers are equally burdened with that responsibility.
The question of how readily large festival crowds can exit the Dame St. area in an emergency is the remaining bone of contention. The Garda request for complete removal of the camp seems rather onerous. But Occupy should listen with an open mind to garda specialist knowledge of crowd dynamics. If any accommodations can be found, all involved should adopt them.
Occupiers are entitled to be assured the Garda letter is not a pretext. But if good faith is the order of the day, then Occupy should not be found lacking. The public will reward mature handling of these issues.
The letter requests a response by March 3rd and makes no mention of reinstating the camp after the festival.
In responses to the Garda letter, the ODS Facebook page featured some comments expressing a belligerent attitude. But these were tempered by other's assurances that the safety issues would be addressed - without saying how or when.
Relations between the Garda and the protesters have in the main been cordial, aided by the respect the Central Bank governor has accorded the Occupy right to protest.
It would serve the Occupy movement well to ensure all these good relations are maintained. A significant deal of public support would vanish if the protesters and Garda became adversaries.
Furthermore, these fire safety issues referred to in the Garda letter were notified to the group some weeks ago - but though discussions have taken place, the issues are still unresolved. That's not to be critical of under resourced protesters - just a statement of fact.
The fire safety issues are serious matters - irrespective of the upcoming festival. The Dame St. camp is a highly concentrated enclosure of mostly flammable material. The camp has a responsibility to it's own members -as well as the public- to resolve these concerns. Garda and fire safety officers are equally burdened with that responsibility.
The question of how readily large festival crowds can exit the Dame St. area in an emergency is the remaining bone of contention. The Garda request for complete removal of the camp seems rather onerous. But Occupy should listen with an open mind to garda specialist knowledge of crowd dynamics. If any accommodations can be found, all involved should adopt them.
Occupiers are entitled to be assured the Garda letter is not a pretext. But if good faith is the order of the day, then Occupy should not be found lacking. The public will reward mature handling of these issues.
What a well-reasoned post.
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