Colm Brophy

And government is very clear in recognising that we don't know on the international political level what is around the corner.

I don't think any government anywhere in the world does, including the United States government, know what is around the corner from one day to the next.

First of all, we have to recognise that talking about tax cuts or talking about anything is actually to do with tax cuts is putting money back into people's pockets.

And that actually helps ordinary people in terms of dealing with cost of living issues.

OK.

So I think it is a very, very important measure that still needs to be considered.

But it will be considered by the government in the round in relation to how the next budget is formulated.

Well, I'll give David one thing.

He's the first Sinn Féin person and I've watched multiple Sinn Féin TDs dance around in the head of a pin to try and say they did or would not have supported the blockade, but supported the protesters.

So he's type removed Sinn Féin's policy on that to saying that as a party, they support the principle that you can blockade.

Well, I don't think he quite said that.

You can blockade and actually stop.

the delivery of oil to hospitals, to emergency services, to the general public.

In some instances they allowed, but it's not their right to choose how many tankers leave and how many ambulances get fuel.

That is not the right.

I want to make it clear, and I think myself and my colleagues in government have been very clear on this.

Everybody has the right to protest.

Everybody has the right to make their voice heard and disagree with government.

But there is a difference between taking that to the stage where you're blockading essential infrastructure, which means that very ordinary people trying to go about and do their daily jobs are actually not able to do them.

That's not a balance in democracy.