Two men have been arrested for public order offences at University College Dublin (UCD) ahead of a scheduled lecture where Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan was due to appear.
Students protesting against third level fees staged a sit-down protest at the College ahead of the minister's arrival and gardaí removed a number of the students.
The men, aged 18 and 21, were arrested shortly before 6pm and were taken to Donnybrook Garda Station.
Minister Lenihan later attended a lecture at UCD’s Clinton Institute of American Studies.
Speaking earlier, Julian Brophy of the campaign group, Free Education for Everyone (FEE), said: “As long as members of government pursue policies which would block access to education, we will block their access to our campus."
"The 67% increase in the registration is an attempt to sneak fees in through the backdoor, and belittles the rhetoric that only the wealthy would be targeted to fund education."
"In 2002, UCD students successfully blockaded Noel Dempsey inside the Veterinary Sciences Centre in Belfield for over two hours, in response to the 69% increase in the registration fee brought in that year. We are looking to build on that tradition”
