Jim O'Callaghan

And listen, I don't know what's going to happen in the future, but we'll deal with other issues when they arise.

Well, listen, short answer is I don't.

But I fully appreciate the tensions and pressures people are under as a result of increasing fuel costs.

It's just having a very serious impact in terms of the cost of living for people.

But there are certain things that we can and can't control.

And obviously, Operation Epic Fury is something that we can't control.

And we have, however, introduced measures that have reduced the pressures on people.

And in terms of your specific question, like, it is the case that the guards did request the army to come in.

The army came in and assisted in Garda Síochána.

Like, had I not announced that, the big question from the media would have been,

Who brought the army?

Why weren't we told about this?

The question afterwards was that people were saying, where is the army?

I know, but I don't control operationally how the Gardaí or the Defence Forces do their work.

I just want to say as well, I think the Gardaí did a very good job in terms of protest.

I fully respect the right of people to protest.

I understand the reason people were protesting.

But what I couldn't do is allow blockades of refineries and our ports to continue.

Because if it was the case that there was no fuel in the petrol stations, if there was no bread on the stands in the supermarkets, like people would legitimately be saying to me, what are you doing?

You're supposed to be the Minister for Justice.