Thousands expected at water charges demonstration in Dublin

Thousands of people are expected to take part in a national demonstration against water charges in Dublin this afternoon.

Groups from around the country are convening at Connolly and Heuston Stations at 2pm, where they will then march to St Stephen's Green.

#Right2Water 8th national demonstration is convening at three locations on #Sept17 pic.twitter.com/j34t6mUWr1

— Right2Water Ireland (@Right2WaterIRL) September 15, 2016

Water charges have been suspended by the Government, pending the outcome of an expert commission.

Organisers of today's march, Right 2 Water say it is also in protest at the Government's decision to appeal the EU's ruling on Apple's €13bn tax bill.

Right 2 Water co-ordinator David Gibney says people do not have confidence that water services will remain State owned.

"They also still see the future for water services and that is inextricably linked to the Apple tax scandal," he said.

"So people are making the connection about who this government represents in terms of the people who benefit from huge dividends being paid out to shareholders in the ownership of multinational corporations, and at the same time subverting democracy and refusing to implement the abolition of water charges."