Sporadic protests have been going on all day outside government buildings today as the 29th Dáil opened for business.
Inside, the House was delayed for a few minutes, as Green Party TD’s occupied the Government front bench protesting what they referred to as "political apartheid" in the way small parties were treated.
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Mr Colm Roddy protesting outside the Dail today
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Outside, Mr Colm Roddy of the NGO Peace Alliance accused Mr Ahern of "signing Ireland up to Bush’s war." He said the Taoiseach had given the US President, Mr George W. Bush, free use of Irish space to carry out a war in Afghanistan. This was instead of using the State’s seat on the UN Security Council to ensure that those responsible for acts of terror were brought before court and given due process in law, he claimed.
Standing nearby the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association’s life-sized plastic cow were the friends of Mr Ollie Wilkinson who chartered a bus to cheer on the newly elected Waterford TD.
A spokesperson for the group of fifty or so people said they were there to celebrate Mr Wilkinson’s victory and said the TD would make "a big difference" by being the man to secure a radiotherapy unit for Waterford.
Dairy farmer Mr Johnny 'Porridge' O'Connor told ireland.comthat the future for farmers was bleak. Demanding that dairy prices be placed at the top of the agenda of the future Minister for Agriculture, Mr O'Connor said the price of milk had gone down while the inflationary pressures of labour, fuel and farm inputs was constantly rising.
In March, the price of milk fell to 27.8 cent per litre, the equivalent of 99.5 per gallon and below the euro 1.30 per gallon, seen as the benchmark for the dairy industry.
Mr O’Connor said that rural Ireland was no longer an attractive place for young people. He said "the vast majority of his neighbors were struggling" and although he said he was able to make a reasonable living he said "hardship was stopping young people taking over the family farms".