Taoiseach: Income tax would go up 4% without water charges

Anti water charge protesters are vowing to keep up their efforts despite a warning from the Taoiseach.

Enda Kenny has claimed that income tax would have to rise by 4% if the charge was to be abolished.

The Fine Gael leader told guests at his party's Presidential dinner last night, that his Government's decisions have been "painful and difficult" for many people - but the current water system is not fit for purpose.

The comments follow a national day of protest yesterday which saw over a hundred thousand people take to the streets up and down the country calling for the new charge to be scrapped.

Brendan Ogle is spokesman for the group Right2Water which organised the rallies:

"We embrace people who don't pay this tax, [who] oppose water meter installation. We also embrace the people, partcularly in rented accomodation, who don't want to pay this tax but feel bullied and harassed by landlords."

He called on people to attend the next round of rallies on International Human Rights Day, December 10.