Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the Daíl this evening to protest against the war in Afghanistan.
Those gathered chanted slogans and carried banners protesting at the bombing of civilians in Afghanistan and calling on the Irish Government to withdraw its offer of the use of Irish airspace and airport facilities to the US military.
Speaking to protestors, Mr Joe Higgins of the Socialist Party said there was no justification for the bombing of Afghanistan. "What is happening now in Afghanistan is an obscenity," he said.
Mr Higgins said that he believed that the war did not have the support of the majority of the people of Ireland. "It is to the absolute shame of the Irish Government that it is continuing its usual subservience to the US government," he said.
Other speakers included Mr Roger Cole of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance, Mr Andi Storey of Action from Ireland (AFRI) and Ms Mary Van Lieshout of the newly-formed US Citizens living in Ireland for Alternatives to War.
The protest was organised by the Irish Anti War Movement, a broad-based anti-war group formed before the launch of attacks on Afghanistan last Sunday.
The group is currently organising further protests, with a national demonstration in Dublin scheduled for November 3rd.