Gardaí alerted to Ministers’ public engagements so security can be assessed

Gardaí are being alerted to Government Ministers’ public engagements so that any risk to security can be assessed as protests against water charges continue.

The practice of ministerial offices emailing details to a dedicated Garda address has been ongoing since demonstrations were at their height last year.

A Government spokesman said he would not comment on security matters. However, a source said while no significant changes had been introduced, the treatment of President Michael D Higgins by some protesters in Finglas "had been noted" and security was always under review.

Dublin arrest

There was one arrest during more than 20 protests against water charges around the country on Saturday, including events in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Sligo and Waterford.

The arrest occurred after a group of several hundred protesters broke away from a peaceful march in central Dublin and attempted to enter Leinster House. A man in his 40s was questioned at Irishtown Garda station and is due in court on February 26th.

The demonstration in Dublin caused disruptions and led to traffic diversions around O’Connell Street and the Liffey quays as buses and Luas traffic were curtailed and roads closed.

There were reports of a flare being fired and some pushing and shoving in Dublin, but gardaí outside Leinster House said they were happy with how the demonstration proceeded.

“There was a feeble attempt to pull open the gates, but there was no great assault on the place,” a source said. “There was a flare but there was no major incident.”

According to Garda sources, a man with a camera who had climbed on top of the Dáil gates for a view of the demonstration slipped and fell inside the railings, but was not believed to have been badly hurt.

Estimates of the number of protesters vary, with organisers of the Dublin protests claiming around 20,000 people attended.

Gardaí at the scene said the number was less than half that. The Garda press office declined to give an estimate.

Insult reiterated

The crowds were addressed by various nonpolitical anti-water-charges activists, including one young man who reiterated claims made by Derek Byrne of the Dublin Says No campaign group that President

Higgins was a “parasite”.

Several protesters sported “Je suis Derek” signs, with Greek flags also in evidence following Syriza’s election victory.

In Cork, an estimated crowd of about 3,500 took to the streets. In Limerick, protesters unfurled a 2.5-metre flag saying “We won’t pay” above the 13th- century King John’s Castle.