Outpouring of anger at protests

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

Tens of thousands of demonstrators travelled from around the country and marched in Dublin yesterday, bringing the capital to a standstill.

Estimates of the huge crowds sweeping into the city varied widely with gardaí saying 35,000 braved the cold temperatures while organisers claimed 100,000 marched. Right2Water campaigner Brendan Ogle said: “The Government are in a political crisis because people have rebelled against this charge in huge numbers. They’ve demonstrated that again, they’ll demonstrate it again in the new year.”

A succession of speakers and entertainers appeared on a stage on Merrion Square in a programme that spanned over three hours. The event, organised by the Right2Water group, was scheduled to coincide with International Human Rights Day, which was celebrated around the world yesterday.

Gardaí reported that apart from a few minor incidents, the gathering was peaceful. Two arrests for public order offences were made as a result of an incident at the bottom of Kildare St, and one officer received minor facial injuries in an incident.

Ten marches from around the city fed into the crowd that congregated in Merrion Square shortly just before 1pm. A variety of speakers addressed the peaceful crowd including Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams, Independent TDs Clare Daly and Paul Murphy, Diarmuid O’Flynn from the Ballyhea Says No, group while music was provided by singers Damien Dempsey and Glen Hansard.

Environment Minister Alan Kelly said yesterday there would be no change to water charge costs. “I’m very content in relation to where we are on Irish Water. There is no other route, it’s as simple as that.”

Health Minister Leo Varadkar also said he was bothered that people were protesting paying €3 a week when there were other problems such as unemployment.

Fianna Fáil’s Barry Cowen last night called for the introduction of the charges next year to be halted.

Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams said that “people power” had already forced the Coalition to make huge concessions.

The next test for the Coalition’s revised water levy regime will be how many households sign up by the registration deadline of February 2 next year.

Protesters say another mass rally will be held ahead of that, at the end of January.