Tanaiste Mary Harney was barely back from holidays when a posse of workers on the Community Employment schemes marched on her office to demand she cancel proposed cuts of 4,500 places in the CE programme. So threatening seemed their manner that terrified officials locked the doors of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in Kildare Street. Even staff out on a break had difficulty getting back to work.
A problem arose, however, when the protesters tried to deliver a letter. The organiser, Joe Carolan, vainly waved the white envelop through the letter box asking for someone to take it. Then he looked at it aghast and exclaimed "It's the wrong colour!" Eventually a Garda inspector used his mobile phone to ring inside and persuade them to take the letter so the protesters and their Garda escort could go home.