Russell Brand wades into water charges row

British comedian and activist Russell Brand has waded into the Irish Water debate, claiming people are to be charged for "their most basic right" here because of "irresponsible government policies".

In a YouTube video, Brand says a third of Irish people are “burning their contracts” with Irish Water.

During the 10-minute video, in which he frequently mimics an Irish accent, he says: “One of the obvious observations that can be made is how come Ireland is continuing to provide massive tax breaks to huge companies when there is an infrastructure crisis in their nation?

“Obviously what people would say is the tax breaks offered to big companies is not an option to change that, because that is what makes the Irish economy so stable, but the Irish economy isn’t stable.

“One in four Irish people endure social deprivation.”

He says “growing international corporations” should contribute so that ordinary people are not “continually persecuted, prosecuted, condemned and damned”.

“People are being charged for water they have already paid for because of irresponsible government policies,” he says. “We should support the people who are protesting in Ireland for the most basic of rights, water.” He then raises a glass of water and toasts: “To Ireland.”