THE MINISTER for Finance Michael Noonan had to take an alternative route to the launch of a public event this Monday after a group of anti water charge protestors gathered outside a hotel chanting and heckling against the introduction of Irish Water.
A group of up to 80 protestors had gathered outside the Absolute Hotel in Limerick awaiting the arrival of Minister Noonan.
The Limerick Minister was heckled by angry protestors when he arrived at the hotel where he had to be ushered in by Gardai as up to a dozen uniformed officers provided a cordon to the entrance.
Speaking earlier Minister Noonan said that “reasonable people” were upset by the manner in which the Tainaiste Joan Burton was “trapped in her car” during a protest in Jobstown at the weekend.
“Obviously the government supports legitimate protest, people are entitled to protest but this went too far, but it was particularly disturbing that it was led by an elected member who has the Dail as a forum if he wants to make a point.
“Some people are protesting because they don’t want to pay at all so if that’s the position any level won’t ameliorate that. But we govern for the centre and we govern for reasonable people.”
Speaking in Limerick earlier Michael Noonan said leaked figures detailing the new rates are “not a million miles” from what is due to be officially announced on Wednesday.
He said the revised package is built on two principles; affordability and certainty, and is not just a short term solution.
“We want the new arrangement to be affordable and to be seen to be affordable for ordinary people and that it gives them certainty about their future bills going out for several years,” he said.
As Minister Noonan launched the Mid West Regional Drugs and Alcohol Forum Awareness Week, protestors outside said they angry the Minister didn’t face them as they carried placards and chanted: “Michael Noonan, who do you think you’re fooling?” and “No way we won’t pay”.
After his address at the hotel, Minister Noonan left the hotel via a side door.
See the protest video here and Minister Noonan evading the protestors.
