Trade union Unite, which represents workers in the hairdressing sector, welcomed the decision.

Latest: Organisers of the ninth anti-water charge protest in Dublin say "the people have won" but the Government is still trying to "steal their human right to water".

Anti-water charge campaigners will hold a protest in Dublin city centre this afternoon urging politicians to implement an Oireachtas committee report which recommends scrapping water charges.

Fine Gael is threatening to oppose recommendations on water charges unless a report specifically provides for an “excessive usage” charge and penalises households for wasting water.

There is no ‘Them’ and ‘Us’ in a representative democracy. People’s power rests in their vote, writes Victoria White

Trade union Unite has revealed that it offered the building at the centre of a social housing row to a homelessness charity three years ago in order to provide accommodation for homeless people.

An Irish-American telecoms millionaire reached out to the Home Sweet Home campaign, the group behind the recent occupation of Apollo House.

As all but one of the Apollo House activists marched out of the building for the last time yesterday morning, the tears being shed were not because of defeat at eviction but for the loss of a place they had finally been able to call home.

Efforts are being made to remove the last remaining occupant from Apollo House in Dublin city centre, the High Court has heard.

The High Court yesterday dismissed an application by the occupiers of Apollo House in Dublin City Centre to remain for an extra week.

The occupiers of Apollo House have agreed to attend a meeting with the Housing Minister tomorrow.

Welcome to 2017. Already it’s better than last year simply because it’s not 2016, even if some of you are probably still a little fragile this morning.

HAPPY Christmas, Apollo House. There are a couple of reasons to cast a jaundiced eye at the occupation of Apollo House in Dublin city centre, writes Michael Clifford. 

Home Sweet Home campaigners have urged Finance Minister Michael Noonan to “instruct” Nama to make buildings available to address Ireland’s homelessness crisis in the wake of the Apollo House stand-off.

The Government has avoided a prospective controversy as John Halligan will be out of the country when an opposition water bill, which he signed before entering government, comes before the Dáil.

Thousands of anti-water charge protesters have staged a demonstration in Dublin.

If you listen carefully, you can almost hear the first waves of an upcoming election campaign lapping against the shore.

An alliance of opposition TDs seeking to abolish water charges intend to force parties and other deputies to stand up to their election promises on Irish Water in a planned Dáil motion.

A law expert claimed Ireland could be hit with “daily” EU penalty fines of at least €5,000 if it chooses to scrap water charges, despite EU sources suggesting deferring the fee system could be allowed and Fianna Fáil insisting there is nothing illegal about cancelling the payments.

Only two weeks have passed since the election. Red-line issues are being abandoned in the rush to get back into the government Mercedes. 

Elected members associated with the Right2Water campaign group will be urged to put down a motion calling for the abolition of Irish Water within 100 days of the new Dáil.

An award-winning American documentary team, which is making a film on the anti-water charges campaign in this country, asserts that Irish citizens are paying “10 times more for water than the average American”.

Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy has admitted the Right2Water movement will not be able to run election candidates on the “widespread basis we would have hoped for”.

Anti-Irish Water campaigners have accused Environment Minister Alan Kelly of morphing into ex-minister Phil Hogan by increasingly “threatening” people who don’t pay their bill.

A row has broken out between the Right2Water campaign and supporters of the Non Payment Network over who will lead a new ‘left’ political party.

Saturday’s water protest was the first real manifestation of an effort to organise on the left of the political spectrum and a seething electorate may grant it some success, writes Michael Clifford.

The Right2Water campaign is finalising a de facto manifesto for potential election candidates which will focus on the wider austerity debate.

Trade unions that are currently leading a nationwide campaign against water charges are to drive plans to set up a left-wing political movement.

CHRISTMAS is traditionally when we reflect on the past 12 months and speculate about the future. What feels different about the 2014 political review/scene setter is that there is so much happening that it is difficult to make a prediction of any accuracy about next year.

I attended the Right2Water public meeting in the Silver Springs Moran Hotel, in Cork, to see the Detroit Water Brigade and hear what Brendan Ogle had to say. 

Environment Minister Alan Kelly has agreed to opposition proposals to strengthen legislation forcing future governments to go to the people before privatising Irish Water.

Water charge protesters have vowed to continue their campaign after the Government refused to abolish the levy following a massive rally in Dublin.

Only hardy souls attended event, says Michael Clifford.

Up to 300 gardaí have been drafted in to police tomorrow’s water charge protest outside Government Buildings, which is expected to attract tens of thousands of people.

Comedian-turned- activist Russell Brand has called on Irish people to skip work this Wednesday and march against water charges instead.

Comedian-turned-activist Russell Brand has called on Irish people to skip work this Wednesday and march against water charges instead.

More than 17,000 people have been duped into signing up to Irish Water, despite returning packs to say they have no interest in the company.

Independent TD Catherine Murphy and youth organisation We’re Not Leaving have joined the Right2Water campaign.

A campaign group has claimed Irish Water’s entire "economic viability" will be put at risk by Government plans to cut fees and delay customer bills — unless future price hikes have been secretly planned.