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Joan Burton wants the international media to know that there's more to Ireland than "ghost estates and piebald ponies left to run in fields"
No fodder

Burton: Ireland is not just "ghost estates and piebald ponies"

Labour deputy chief asks protestors to keep the peace for the sake of our international image.

LABOUR’S DEPUTY LEADER Joan Burton has begged Irish protestors not to provide “photo fodder” for the international media by turning violent.

In the debate yesterday in the Dail on the Government’s four-year national recovery plan, Burton said that people should bear in mind that the violent protests in Greece during their financial crisis “really damaged its tourism trade”.

The Irish Times carries quotes from Burton in which she appeals for protestors, who she says “are as mad as hell and don’t want to take any more” to keep a cool head. She said:

I please with people not to be photo fodder for some of the international media stalking Dublin and various buildings. Ireland is not just ghost estates and piebald ponies left to run in fields, even though those images are appealing.

Violent protests erupted last May in Greece as the government there unveiled a series of austere measures aimed at tackling their debt crisis. Three people were killed in the riots.