Opposition TDs label Jim O’Callaghan ‘Rambo’ after Defence Forces statement

Opposition TDs have labelled the Justice Minister “Rambo” for his statements during fuel protests last week.

On Thursday, Jim O’Callaghan said the Defence Forces would assist An Garda Siochana in removing vehicles from the blockade.

In a statement he said: “The blocking of critical national infrastructure will not be permitted to continue and the assistance of the Defence Forces has been requested.”

Speaking during a confidence motion in the Dail, Social Democrat TD Cian O’Callaghan said: “When calm leadership was required, we got chaos.

“Instead of pursuing a strategy of de-escalation, ministers decided to fan the flames.

“GI Jim O’Callaghan arrived on the scene thinking that he was Rambo.”

Speaking in Irish, he asked: “Where is he now?”

Sylvester Stallone played the character John J Rambo, a highly decorated Vietnam veteran, in five action films.

Mr O’Callaghan said: “The last thing that the country needed was that approach.

“Thankfully, a very effective, professional police response brought the country back from the brink.”

Speaking to reporters at Leinster House earlier on Tuesday, Labour’s Ged Nash also referred to Mr O’Callaghan as Rambo, or “Jimbo”, saying there had been “disputes” between him and Minister for Defence Helen McEntee, adding he is a “guy that’s really hard to take seriously at the moment”.

He said: “This is why I said the authority is drained from this Government.

“When you start questioning legitimately, individual, collective competence of governments, legitimately so, then we have a real problem.”

Also speaking outside Leinster House was the Social Democrats’ Garry Gannon.

He said: “When people were seeking resolution, guidance of voice and calm heads, Minister O’Callaghan was seeking to get in front of the Morning Ireland news bulletins by announcing that the army would be on the street.

“What that led to was an entrenchment in the positions, more people were called to the protest.

“More lorries and tractors arrived because resolve kicked in, and that was a failure of Mr O’Callaghan.

“His comments last week escalated the protest to beyond any measure that I’ve seen previously.”

Speaking in the Dail, Independent Ireland TD Ken O’Flynn compared Mr O’Callaghan to another film character.

He said: “What did Big Jim, James Bond himself, do?

“He said, we’ll turn the army on our own citizens, which is reminiscent of something that you would hear in South America.”

Mr O’Callaghan addressed the Dail during the debate and criticised online and in person harassment directed at gardai, which he said “will not be tolerated”.

Following his speech Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty heckled him and asked: “No apologies for threatening the army, Jim? No apologies, no? Do you stand by it?”

To which Mr O’Callaghan responded: “You should recognise and respect our army. You respected another army for long enough”.

Mr O’Callaghan was not the only Fianna Fail politician to gain a nickname during the debate.

Independent Ireland TD Richard O’Donoghue, who attended the protests, criticised Minister of State Timmy Dooley and suggested his handling of the crisis would cost him re-election.

He said: “Timmy Do-little, you were mentioned at the protests.

“You’ll be gone the next time and you’ll never again return.”