The security steps being taken by the gardaí for Saturday's planned May Day protest are provocative, completely unnecessary and a "trial run" for the visit of US president George W. Bush in June, one of the main protest groups has claimed.
The Another Europe is Possible alliance said the security operations gardaí had outlined in recent days were an attempt to "intimidate" people from coming out to join the May Day carnival and march against war, racism and corporate greed.
Mr Rory Hearne of the Another Europe is Possible group told reporters this morning he believed the steps reflected what had been done in Italy in advance of the violent protests in Genoa three years ago.
The gardaí had not taken account of the fact that the nature of the anti-capitalist movement had changed and evolved into a peaceful, social movement since Genoa, Mr Hearne said.
Mr Hearne again emphasised that his group planned a completely peaceful march and said there would be 50 to 60 stewards present to ensure that "provocateurs" did not disrupt it. He said the Garda and elements within the Government were creating "hype" and trying to push the idea that the protest would be violent.
The Garda Commissioner, Mr Noel Conroy, has said intelligence reports suggest up to 300 international protesters visiting Dublin will try to cause a disturbance during the celebrations on Saturday. The Garda have brought in water cannon equipment, which they put on display to the media today.
Mr Hearne said the march had been organised firstly to protest at the direction Europe is going and against the fact that the EU was now about "big corporate interests" rather than about the people of Europe.
Secondly, the event was about the "fortress Europe" that is emerging, with restrictions on immigrants and free movement.
Issues such as immigration and the environment are not being put at the heart of the European project, Mr Hearne added. He said Saturday's march and carnival was for the people of Europe and not the business interests of Europe.
The protesters are also objecting to what they say is continuing Irish support for the war in Iraq and against the militarisation of Europe.
Mr Hearne rejected claims the event might be seen as a protest against the accession of 10 new member states, saying his group welcomed these new countries to the EU. However, the group was concerned for the people of these accession states and for their future, in light of the way the EU was being structured to accommodate business interests.
Mr Brendan Archbold of the Mandate trade union said trade unionists would be marching on Saturday to celebrate International Labour Day. He said he found it "particularly grotesque" that people in Europe objected to immigrants from certain countries, when the same European countries were helping to create the poor working conditions from which some immigrants were trying to escape.
Mr Archbold said he had visited banana plantations in Ecquador and he knew what the conditions there were like. Supermarkets in the EU were abusing their power and helping to create these poor conditions.
The day of protest was also about standing up for workers who were in danger of losing their jobs or of having them devalued through privatisation.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism encouraged the public to take part in the "unique public events" taking place in Dublin and throughout Ireland to celebrate the accession of the 10 states on the so-called Day of Welcomes.
"The Day of Welcomesis a day of celebration for all and I wish to encourage the local communities of the 10 towns and cities to come out and enjoy the many exciting and entertaining events organised," Mr O'Donoghue said.
Ten towns and cities will each play host to an accession state. They are: Bray, Cork, Drogheda, Galway, Kilkenny, Killarney, Letterkenny, Limerick, Sligo and Waterford.
The events include a fireworks display on Sandymount Strand in Dublin on Friday night and a European fair in Merrion Square on Saturday.
"The citizens of Ireland have a unique opportunity to welcome our new European neighbours and to participate in these unique cultural celebrations. I want to congratulate my department and everyone involved in the hard work that has gone into making this happen," the minister said.