Water plant workers protest outside Dail

Striking workers from the Ballymore Eustace water treatment plant in Co Kildare have been protesting outside the Dail at the plant's proposed privatisation.

SIPTU members have threatened further strike action and warned they may call on other union members in Dublin Corporation to join them on the picket lines.

SIPTU spokesman Paul Smith said there is a danger of higher charges for water if plants like the one at Ballymore Eustace are privatised.

He added that it was totally unnecessary to sell off such utilities to the private sector at a time when the Exchequer has a large surplus.