Between 30-35,000 people turned out in Dublin this afternoon for a mass protest against water charges.
Following the main action a smaller group of protesters blocked traffic in the centre of the city. In the last few minutes gardai have cleared O;'Connell bridge
O'Connell Bridge https://t.co/r8eMyUrt9p
— Richard Chambers (@newschambers) December 10, 2014
Breaking: Gardaí clearing O'Connell Bridge. Dog unit mobilised. pic.twitter.com/wlXT3hbf36
— Richard Chambers (@newschambers) December 10, 2014
TDs taking part say the protest is a message to the government that the people have had enough austerity, and a General Election should be called.
“I think they’re being served notice... I think Enda Kenny should listen up,” said Mary Lou McDonald TD.
Luke 'Ming' Flanagan MEP said that some people had speculated that a turnout of 50,000 would be “a failure”. He told Newstalk he had heard some estimate the attendance at 70,000.
“It shows you that this country has woken up when the mainstream media and the mainstream political parties think 50,000 is a failure,” he said.
The protest at Merrion Square passed off peacefully, however there have been some minor scuffles between gardai and protesters on Kildare Street. Protesters threw sticks, placards and coins at gardaí.
Gardaí and a relatively small breakaway group of protesters engaged in a stand-off at the bottom of Kildare Street.
Members of the Public Order Unit - in riot gear - have been deployed on Kildare Street.
Riot squads merge into one in Molesworth street https://t.co/Q2guwF7wZE
— Páraic Gallagher (@paraicgallagher) December 10, 2014
Minor scuffles and objects thrown at Gardai near Leinster House on opposite side of #Right2Water demo pic.twitter.com/zt7sfrOOHD
— Fergal O'Brien (@FergalTodayFM) December 10, 2014
Gardaí say tens of thousands are taking part, while the Right2Water organisers have put the figure at between 50 and 70,000 people.
Both organisers and gardaí are appealing for a peaceful protest to be maintained.
The centrepoint of the protest is a stage set up at Merrion Square - where figures including Sinead O’Connor and the Detroit Water Brigade from the US will speak to the crowd. Glen Hansard and Damien Dempsey, meanwhile, have performed a version of The Auld Triangle for the crowd outside Leinster House.
These protesters have described their motivations for attending today's demonstration:
This morning Environment Minister Alan Kelly has said that nothing is going to change in relation to the water charges:
Brendan Ogle, spokesman with Right2Water, had a message for Alan Kelly on Newstalk Lunchtime today:
The Dáil sat until well after midnight last night to start approving amendments to the water charges regime - meaning it will not have to hold any debates on water today.
Niamh McDonald is a member of 'Arklow Says No', and is in Dublin for today's action. She told the Pat Kenny Show here on Newstalk she is determined the government will hear their voice this afternoon:
Originally posted at 6.56am
