A new law being proposed would make the picketing of politicians' private homes a criminal offence.
Fianna Fáil Senator Malcolm Byrne is to introduce the Protection of Private Residences against Targeted Picketing Bill in the Seanad this week.
A first offence would see a fine, while a second or subsequent offence could see a fine of up to €5,000 or 12 months in prison if convicted.
A number of protests have taken place outside or near politicians' private homes in recent months, including Minister Simon Harris and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar.
Senator Byrne told Newstalk Breakfast he hoped this legislation was something that would never be necessary.
"I would have thought there would never have been a need for legislation in this area.
"The right to protest in Ireland is very important, we've always protected the right to peacefully protest.
"But unfortunately we've a small fringe who, as we've seen, have taken outside the private homes - not just of politicians, but the Chief Medical Officer, outside the homes of broadcasters.
"And I just don't think that it's acceptable."
He says the right to protest is balanced by the right to privacy.
"If you want to protest, protest outside Leinster House or a Government department - but somebody's private home it should be a safe place.
"Every right is balanced with a responsibility, and an individual also has - under the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights - a right to privacy.
"So if I disagree with something that Newstalk is doing, certainly I can go and I can protest outside Newstalk studios.
"But that doesn't make it right for me to go and protest directly outside your home.
"In every instance, every competing right has to be balanced.
"And it's not just obviously the person who you're targeting is going to be impacted if you protest outside somebody's home; it's an individual's family, often children are involved, and their neighbours.
"And frankly it's distasteful".
Asked how it would be implemented, since many houses are on public roads, he says there are guidelines around this.
"The legislation provides for a targeted protest within 200 metres.
"Of course if somebody's protesting about something else that happens to be in your vicinity that's not a case.
"But if there are placards that [are] targeting an individual and shouting their name then it's very clear it's a targeting protest."
