The Executive Council of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has today (July 15) strongly condemned an emerging "culture of hatred and intolerance" that is fomented by far right groupings in order to target and discredit political opponents and "advance their own divisive agenda."
Speaking after a meeting of the Congress Executive Council, General Secretary Patricia King said trade unions had expressed serious concern at a recent campaign of abuse directed at the Green Party's Roderic O"Gorman, which appeared to confirm a growing tendency among shadowy, far right groupings to engage in such actions.
The Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration has been the subject of sustained online abuse, much of it homophobic in nature and was the target of abuse at a public rally in Dublin on Saturday.
At the Executive Council meeting today a number of speakers condemned the tone of the rally and the behaviour of far right supporters at the event.
Patricia King said: 'this is a worrying example of a trend which should not go unchallenged. There can be no doubt but that these concerted campaigns of hatred and intolerance are driven and organised by far right elements to further their own agenda of division and intolerance.
'there can be no place for such hate-speak in our public life. It is toxic, undermines free speech and democratic debate and we cannot allow it to take root in our societies, north or south.
"No public or private individual should be subjected to such abuse and intolerance and it is the responsibility of both government and the social media platforms often utilised by these elements to put in place the measures required to bring this to an end.
"As trade unionists we must be absolutely clear and forthright in our opposition to such campaigns and must challenge the shadowy groupings behind them," Ms King said.
For further information contact: Macdara Doyle, Campaigns Officer on 087 9174171
ENDS
