A young Fine Gael meeting at which Ms Aine Ni Chonaill of the Immigration Control Platform was due to speak has been cancelled because of a threatened protest by anti-racism campaigners.
College authorities advised the Trinity College branch to cancel tonight's meeting in the interests of public safety, said Mr Ronan Burke of Young Fine Gael.
The meeting was to discuss the State's refugee situation. Mr Mohammed Haj, an asylum-seeker and refugee representative, and Mr Arthur Lynch, chairman of Young Fine Gael's national executive, were due to participate.
But protesters from the Anti-Racism Campaign and the Anti-Nazi League had planned to hold a demonstration outside the meeting.
Mr Burke said Young Fine Gael's quarrel was not with the college authorities, but with the comments of Mr Gregor Kerr of the Anti-Racism Campaign.
"By denying us the right to formulate a balanced opinion concerning the refugee situation, based on the views which would have been expressed at the meeting, Mr Kerr has effectively infringed our right to free speech," he said.
"While we may not concur with the views of Ms Ni Chonaill, to disregard her opinion on this issue would be folly."
The Anti-Nazi League said it had planned a peaceful protest and was committed to demonstrating outside any meeting being addressed by Ms Ni Chonaill.
"The issue of racism has become a serious one in Ireland and we are disappointed that a college society had decided to give her respectability by the invitation, particularly in a mixed environment," said a statement.