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| Water charges: Almost 100 protests across Republic of Ireland | Water charges: Almost 100 protests across Republic of Ireland |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Tens of thousands of people are taking part in protests against water charges in the Republic of Ireland. | |
| The campaigners have organised almost 100 separate protests in Irish towns and cities on Saturday, against charges that were introduced last month. | |
| It is one of the largest ever mass protests over Irish government policy. | |
| The controversial austerity measure is a key part of the government's plan to pay back the international financial bailout the state had to seek in 2010. | The controversial austerity measure is a key part of the government's plan to pay back the international financial bailout the state had to seek in 2010. |
| About 20 of the demonstrations are being staged in the capital city, Dublin. | |
| Irish police said official estimates of the numbers attending the demonstrations in towns and cities were not available. | |
| 'Had enough' | 'Had enough' |
| However, the Irish state broadcaster, RTÉ, has reported that up to 10,000 protesters took to the streets of Cork city on Saturday. | |
| The broadcaster also estimated that a crowd of up to 7,000 protested in Letterkenny, County Donegal, while demonstrations in Limerick, Waterford, and Dundalk each attracted about 5,000 people. | |
| Smaller protests took place in Sligo, Navan, Wicklow, Galway, Kilkenny, Wexford, Ashbourne, Drogheda and Longford, as well as other towns and villages. | |
| Some of the hundreds of people attending a protest in Ringsend, Dublin, told the BBC they do not believe they should pay charges for something that is already free and paid for out of general taxation. | Some of the hundreds of people attending a protest in Ringsend, Dublin, told the BBC they do not believe they should pay charges for something that is already free and paid for out of general taxation. |
| Other protesters said they were opposed to the bonus culture in Irish Water - the company established last month to provide the service. | Other protesters said they were opposed to the bonus culture in Irish Water - the company established last month to provide the service. |
| Martin Kennedy said he was taking part in the protests because he wanted to send a message to the government. | Martin Kennedy said he was taking part in the protests because he wanted to send a message to the government. |
| "Primarily, people are here today about water charges, but really it's about austerity. | "Primarily, people are here today about water charges, but really it's about austerity. |
| "We've simply had enough," he said. | "We've simply had enough," he said. |
| Worried | Worried |
| Anita Stanley, who attended a demonstration in Dublin with her mother, also expressed her frustration at the government's policy. | Anita Stanley, who attended a demonstration in Dublin with her mother, also expressed her frustration at the government's policy. |
| "I'm a young widow, like my mum Ann, and we're here just to say we've had enough," she said. | "I'm a young widow, like my mum Ann, and we're here just to say we've had enough," she said. |
| "We can't afford to give any more." | "We can't afford to give any more." |
| Éamonn Campbell, renowned as a guitarist with Irish folk music group The Dubliners, was also among the protesters. | |
| "It is not just about water charges, it is about all these taxes that have been forced by the greedy, both in Ireland and Europe, and paid for on the backs of the needy," he said. | |
| The Fine Gael/Labour coalition government is clearly worried about the scale of opposition. | The Fine Gael/Labour coalition government is clearly worried about the scale of opposition. |
| Irish Deputy Prime Minister (Tánaiste) Joan Burton has said the charges will be modest and capped. | Irish Deputy Prime Minister (Tánaiste) Joan Burton has said the charges will be modest and capped. |
| Households are due to receive their first water bills in January 2015. | |
| It is the second time in weeks that members of the public have staged mass protests over the controversial government policy. | It is the second time in weeks that members of the public have staged mass protests over the controversial government policy. |
| Last month, tens of thousands of people marched through Dublin to show their opposition. | Last month, tens of thousands of people marched through Dublin to show their opposition. |