Two students were arrested yesterday following a demonstration opposite Leinster House which was attended by thousands of students from all over the State.
Earlier, students at a good-humoured gathering heard SIPTU vice-president Mr Des Geraghty pledge his support for closer links between the State's biggest trade union and the Union of Students in Ireland. These links would include "sharing services and giving you support," he said.
The USI said more than 5,000 attended the demonstration, called to demand a £65 million investment in purpose-built student accommodation, the abolition of college fees (£278 in most cases) and an increase in grants (now £47 a week) to the same level as social welfare payments.
The demonstration was held in Molesworth Street, opposite the entrance to Leinster House. Two students from the National College of Art and Design later complained that following the demonstration they had organised a group of about 70 other students to gather outside the gates of the Dail to chant slogans.
They said gardai prevented them from entering Kildare Street and that when some students persisted in trying to get past them on to the street, the group was manhandled by gardai.
A male student was arrested. A group of students later went to Pearse Street Garda Station to protest. Ms Heather Lyall said that while she was protesting loudly a male student beside her who was saying nothing was arrested and brought into the station.
One of the students arrested was from UCD and the other from Trinity College.
The Garda Press Office later said two men were arrested, one in the vicinity of Kildare Street for an offence under the Road Traffic Act and another in Pearse Street for a public order offence.
Addressing the demonstration earlier, Mr Geraghty likened it to the student protests of the 1960s. "Welcome back to the streets," he said. SIPTU had been approached by the leadership of the USI and "we are going to develop a close working relationship with the USI not only in solidarity but in sharing services and giving you support."