The Ceann Comhairle has said last Wednesday's protests outside the Dáil was a "direct, deliberate, and orchestrated attack on democracy".
In an interview for RTÉ's The Week in Politics, Sean Ó Fearghaíl said that "protest is an acceptable and desirable part of the democratic process" but that the protestors "were not there to serve any particular cause because they are incapable of that".
Mr Ó Fearghaíl pointed out that Leinster House is home to 220 politicians, as well as 1,200 staff, including civil servants, advisors, media, who are "all entitled to come to their place of work without being interfered with".
He said he was "profoundly sad" after witnessing the scenes on Kildare Street.
Following the scenes, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee asked the Garda Commissioner to conduct a security review for TDs, Senators and others working in the Oireachtas.
As part of the process, chairs of the parliamentary parties and groupings, as well as representatives of Oireachtas staff and the media will be asked to engage with An Garda Síochána.
The review is to be completed by the end of October.
Separately, a task force on safe participation in public life was established by the Ceann Comhairle earlier this year and is due to report by year end.
Its recommendations will be a set of "implementable proposals".
The task force is also looking at impediments to getting involved in politics. To this end, he said, that "as politicians we need to ask ourselves, are we doing enough in our day-to-day work. We need to demonstrate integrity and do what we promised we were going to do".
Today on #RTETWIP, @lawlor_aine sat down with Ceann Comhairle @SOFearghail to discuss the #DáilEireann protests.
— The Week in Politics (@rtetwip) September 24, 2023
The Week in Politics rebroadcasts at 10pm on the @RTENews Channel and 11pm @RTEOne 📺
pic.twitter.com/etJJWCkPeT
He added: "It is essential that parliament is open and accessible to the people, and we have done a lot to make sure people can see what is being done on their behalf.
"We can no longer tolerate something that is about undermining attacking and undermining democracy and spreading hate - whether about migrants or whatever its about.
"Tolerating it will bring us to where America arrived at Capitol Hill in the aftermath of the last [US Presidential] election."
One of the issues being looked at is the possibility of moving protesters back further from the house to create a buffer for people who work in Leinster House. He said this would make sure that people are not menaced, threatened or abused.
Today on #RTETWIP, Minister For Children @rodericogorman speaks about last week's protests outside #DailEireann:
— The Week in Politics (@rtetwip) September 24, 2023
'This protest isn't unique'.
The Week in Politics is airing NOW on @RTEOne 📺 pic.twitter.com/D0bFp3xrv4
The Ceann Comhairle also believes that social media plays a part in some of the behaviour seen outside the house last Wednesday.
"These people have had free access on social media to promulgate hatred and we saw that manifested on the streets," Mr Ó Fearghaíl said.
He also said that politicians have a responsibility to speak respectfully to each other in the chamber, in the media and in general discourse.
"We cannot expect the public to respect us as politicians if we don't respect ourselves," he said.
The task force is also looking at impediments to getting involved in politics.
Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the AGSI has said that members maintained a calm approach during protests outside the Dáil this week, despite the abuse and vitriol they endured.
Antoinette Cunningham said the escalating abuse against gardaí is very concerning.
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week programme, she said that the full incident will be reviewed by operational commanders and the AGSI will feed into that if there are specific concerns that need to be addressed.
