Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has strongly denied a claim by the Taoiseach that party members engaged in insulting behaviour in Limerick on Monday night.

In heated Dáil exchanges, Mr Adams said his party had not been involved in the protest outside a Fine Gael meeting. He added that local Sinn Féin councillor Maurice Quinlivan had made that clear.

“I presume you knew this or you could have checked it out before you came in here to throw that allegation which was carried by some of the media,’’ he added. “It is clearly part of an effort by you to demonise the anti-water charges campaign and particularly Sinn Féin.’’

He called on Mr Kenny to withdraw his "inaccurate and untrue allegation''.

Mr Kenny said there always seemed to be a problem with the associates of the Sinn Féin party. “I was in Clare and Limerick the other day…I don’t think you were down there yourself,’’ he added. “I am not blind, I saw the posters myself.’’

Mr Kenny said what happened was absolutely disgraceful and Mr Adams should be saying to the associates of his party that he never wanted to hear that kind of language again.

It was perfectly in order, the Taoiseach added, for people to democratically and legitimately express their concerns in a peaceful way. The Limerick protest had been very abusive towards women in particular, he said.

Mr Adams said he had asked questions of Mr Kenny in the Dáil on Tuesday about issues relating to Irish Water. The Taoiseach, he said, had not answered those questions but made "spurious and untruthful'' remarks which Mr Kenny had repeated in the House.

“His answer, I think, shows a lack of a sense of grace,’’ Mr Adams added. “When you are told by me, and the leader of our group in Limerick, that Sinn Féin was not involved in that protest, you should accept it.’’

Mr Adams accused Mr Kenny of failing to listen to the Opposition in the Dáil and the people on the streets.

“You were forced in a partial u-turn on this issue,’’ he added. “So that shows people that people power is working.’’

The Government, he added, did have an opportunity to get rid of water charges and people know that. “People are scandalised by the continuous waste of public money by Irish Water,’’ Mr Adams added.

Mr Kenny said the kind of language used by people associated with Sinn Féin “was absolutely appalling, to women in particular’’ and Mr Adams should make a statement asking every party member to cease association with the broad support group he had referred to.