More than 500 protesters gathered outside the Dáil this evening calling for the release of anti-bin-charge campaigners Mr Joe Higgins and Ms Clare Daly.
As the Dáil resumed after its three-month summer recess, campaigners threatened to extend their blockade of waste collections if local authorities persisted with its policy of not collecting bins from households that have not paid the waste charge.
Demonstrators chanted: "Free Clare and Joe, the bin tax has to go"; and sang; "Don't pay the wheelie bins" to the tune of Don't Pay the Ferryman.
Fingal Anti Bin Tax Campaign spokeswoman Ms Ruth Coppinger said: "There are people inside the Dáil who have cheated their taxes and who have driven their cars at high speed over the alcohol limit.
"Bertie Ahern get your own house in order."
Independent TD Mr Finian McGrath said it was unacceptable that a local authority would not collect waste. He also said he was "staggered, amazed and dismayed" at the failure of the trade union movement to back the campaign to free the jailed pair.
About 40 officers policed the protest as householders, including pensioners, voiced their opposition to the charge and the jailing of TD Mr Higgins and his Socialist Party colleague Fingal councillor Ms Daly.
Both were jailed for a month for contempt of court at Dublin's High Court.
PA