Irish Water briefing suspended after protesters storm conference room

Irish Water had to postpone the briefing amid rowdy scenes after a group of protestors managed to get into the Cork conference room at 11.30am.

Some politicians then objected to the briefing continuing with both protestors and media present.

Irish Water officials had initially agreed to allow the briefing proceed once the protestors remained at the rear of the room and did not interrupt proceedings.

Protestors would also have been allowed ask a few questions at the conclusion of the information session.

However, several councillors privately voiced their concerns to Irish Water officials and the briefing was later adjourned and finally postponed.

The protestors evaded security to get into the conference room where around 30 councillors were about to be briefed on the water charges regime by a senior Irish Water team.

Protestor John O'Donovan said he wanted to be able to put questions to Irish Water - and he warned that people would not be excluded from a vital information process.

"They wanted to keep us out but there is no way we are going to sit idly by - we want answers about what is going on," he said.

Anti-water charge protestors vowed that Ireland will witness an historic demonstration of people power next weekend as almost 70 demonstrations take place nationwide.

The vow came as 50 protestors demonstrated outside the Silversprings Hotel in Cork where Irish Water officials briefed councillors from Cork, Kerry and Clare on the roll-out of the metering and charges system.

The meeting followed repeated demands from councillors for detailed information on the water charge regime.

Some protestors donned Halloween costumes and carried placards proclaiming: "Death to Irish Water".

John O'Donovan said momentum is now fully behind the anti-water charge movement.

"We have been getting stronger and stronger and stronger. Next Saturday the Government and Irish Water will see for themselves just how the Irish people feel about water charges," he said.

Mr O'Donovan said the huge numbers now supporting national protests had finally made the Government realise the depth of fury over the charges.

Two other protestors, Elizabeth Hourihan and Rachel Murphy from the National Citizens Movement said they believed a High Court challenge could yet suspend the controversial charges.

"It is terrible what is being done to people who simply cannot afford to pay this double taxation," they said.

Many of the councillors attending the briefing said they supported the immediate suspension of the planned charges.

"The anger over these charges is rising by the day. The simple truth is that people simply cannot afford to pay these charges," Cllr Chris O'Leary (SF) said.

Sinn Fein later accused some members of Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fail of not wanting the briefing to proceed in front of the public and media.

In a brief statement, Irish Water said the planned Cork meeting was part of their information briefing programme.

"Irish Water’s senior management team has been holding a series of regional briefings for councillors throughout October," a spokesperson said.

"To date, Irish Water has hosted seven briefings at seven different locations throughout Ireland covering councillors from 24 local authorities."

"The briefings have provided councillors with an update on events and plans within Irish Water and given local representatives an opportunity to raise questions and discuss issues of interest to their constituents with the senior management team at Irish Water."

Over 100 councillors were invited to attend the Cork briefing.