Around thirty anti water charge protestors gathered outside Limerick College of Further Education on Monday morning where Minister for Education Jan O'Sullivan was launching College Awareness Week.
Further protests are expected in Limerick on Monday evening when Taoiseach Enda Kenny meets with local Fine Gael activists and party members.
Addressing the issue of continuing demonstrations over water charges Minister O’Sullivan insisted “most reasonable people” will see the Government has responded to concerns with reviewed water rate package.
“I believe the announcement last week has been reasonable. It has addressed issues of affordability and the issue around the PPS numbers and the issues around certainty into the next few years. I think that most reasonable people will see that the government has listened to people’s concerns about the charges and we have responded.”
When asked if she was nervous about continuing protests given what happened her party leader and Tánaiste Joan Burton in Jobstown recently the Limerick TD said:
“The people here have been calm and there hasn’t been anything that people would be concerned about. What happened to Joan Burton was a disgrace but this hasn’t happened here.
“I did a number of events in Limerick on Friday and there weren’t any protests. I see that amongst the protestors are some of the representatives of the Anti Austerity Alliance so clearly those people will continue to protest but I think the vast majority of people will accept that we have listened and we have responded.”
Minister O’Sullivan insisted that people are entitled to protest as we live in a democracy and admitted she has protested herself in the past.
When asked about the latest political opinion polls which show support for Labour continuing to drop Minister O'Sullivan admitted the party needs to start focussing on the positive and getting the message out about economic recovery.
Meanwhile, Anti Austerity Alliance representatives in Limerick say further protests over water charges are planned to take place tonight in Limerick when the Taoiseach will meet Fine Gael activists and party members at the Greenhills Hotel.