Thousands march through towns in water protests

Up to 90 protests against water charges are taking place in towns and cities across the country.

Organisers are predicting that 100,000 people will take part in the demonstrations.

There are an estimated 5,000 marchers in Dundalk, 4,000 in Waterford, 4,000 in Sligo, 3,500 in Navan, 2,500 in Wicklow, 2,500 in Galway, 2,000 in Kilkenny, 2,000 in Ashbourne, Co Meath and 1,200 in Longford.

About 1,000 people took part in the protest march in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim.

More than 1,000 people turned out in Ballina. Organisers say the large crowd sends a clear message to Taoiseach Enda Kenny about the opposition in his constituency to Irish Water and the imposition of charges. 

Gardai say an earlier march in Castlebar attracted in the region of 300 people. 

More than 20 protests are taking place in Dublin.

Major traffic disruption is expected in the city centre this afternoon with a number of protests converging.

Protesters have gathered at both Connolly and Heuston train stations for a march to the GPO on O'Connell Street.

Organisers have said 4,000 people marched in both Dún Laoghaire and Swords, while up to 1,500 were in Tallaght.

An estimated crowd of 400 people attended a protest in Donaghmede this morning, while 500 marched from Ringsend to Pearse Street.

Newly elected Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice joined more than 2,000 protesters at the march in Roscommon town.

With more than 20,000 people on boil water notices throughout the county, locals marched through the streets chanting: 'No way, we already pay'. 

The Cork city protest has attracted a crowd estimated at 3,000, despite heavy rain.

Up to 500 people took part in a protest in Bandon, where they handed in a petition to the office of Fine Gael TD Jim Daly.

There are also marches in Clonakilty, Youghal, Fermoy and Mallow.

Demonstrators in Limerick gathered at Bedford Row. Several thousand people have come from across the city to take part.

Gallery of protest pictures from around the country

Speakers urged the crowd to take part in a nationwide campaign of resistance and to start groups in their own neighbourhoods.

Protest are also taking place in Ennis and Shannon in Co Clare and in Ballyanders and Abbeyfeale in Co Limerick

The rallies come ahead of a Government decision outlining how the charges will be implemented, which is expected in the coming weeks.

Fianna Fáil has demanded the suspension of the charges pending a review of Irish Water while Reform Alliance TDs have called for the suspension of all Dáil business next Tuesday and Wednesday in order to discuss the issue.
 

'Serious mistakes' were made - Nash

Minister of State at the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation Ged Nash has said serious mistakes were made in the establishment of Irish Water.

Mr Nash said the Government is working on a payment system that is fairer and more affordable.

He said: "We acknowledge people's anxieties right across the country about issues regarding affordability for water charges and we're prepared to address those.

"We have a very open mind on this and we will respond to the concerns that people have.

"I think some serious mistakes have been made. The timeframe for the establishment of Irish Water was very ambitious and very exacting.

"I think if we were starting again we would have a much longer timeframe to establish what is a very important public utility."

Socialist Party TD Ruth Coppinger earlier said the Government "is on the ropes over water charges".

She said: "If the demonstrations don't convince them to ditch it, a mass boycott of the bills is inevitable in January."

Irish Water is due to issue its first bills at the end of January following a decision by the Commission for Energy Regulation to extend the validation campaign until the end of this month.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for a community organisation that distributed water protest leaflets printed on paper carrying the National Development Plan logo has said it was a mistake to use the letterhead.

The leaflets, sent by the Family Resource Centre in Inchicore to houses in the area, carried the message "the time is now to fight back against austerity" underneath a logo reading "Funded under the Irish Government's National Development Plan".

Rita Fagan said the flyer was printed on the organisation's ordinary letterhead, which carries the NDP logo, but that the material was not being funded by the Government.

She said less than half of the organisation's funding comes through the National Development Plan and that it was a "slip-up" to use the logo on the leaflets.

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