Students threaten to escalate fees protests

The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) president said today he would tell the Garda Commissioner he can no longer control militant students angered at the proposed reintroduction of fees.

Flanked by the education spokespersons for the opposition parties, Mr Colm Jordan told a press conference he would be writing to Mr Pat Byrne today warning him of the possibility of serious disruptions in protest at a proposal by the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, to reintroduce third-level fees for students from wealthy families.

Mr Jordan said he had received information of planned "direct actions" by militant students that would be going ahead whether or not they were sanctioned by the USI.

"I will state outright that I can no longer control the unilateral and individual actions of students," he said. "We have lobbied, we have peacefully campaigned, we have demonstrated . . . and still we are not consulted.

"The word is going out today - I will not be responsible for what happens next".

Asked if this was a threat, Mr Jordan answered: "No, it's a promise".

Students occupied the offices of the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Department of Transport on Tuesday. Six protestors also handcuffed themselves to the railings of the Dáil and had to be cut free by gardaí.

Mr Jordan's comments were condemned by the Young Progressive Democrats (YPDs) this evening despite their opposition to the mooted re-imposition of fees.

YPD Chairman Mr Paul McAuliffe Mr Jordan's "promise" would bring negative criticism to both students and the NO 2 FESScampaign.

"The vast majority of students who were opposed to thereintroduction of third level fees were not willing to break the law ... We Respect and exercise our right to protest but this should be done within the law as it stands," he said.

Ms Jan O'Sullivan Labour Party Education spokesperson said she would not condone any use of violence "for any end", but there was a very strong case for their opposition to the reintroduction of fees. Fine Gael's Ms Olwyn Enright said the students had the right to protest, as their concerns have been "ignored" by the Government.

Sinn Féin's Mr Arthur Morgan, Louth TD and education spokesman, said his party machine would be mobilising street protests throughout the country.

The Green Party's Mr Paul Gogarty also said he hoped further protests would be carried out legally. "You can have an effective protest without breaking the law," he insisted.