Sinn Féin has predicted that Irish water charges will be "defeated".

MEP Matt Carthy said Irish people have suffered enough hardship and has pledged to continue to oppose the charges.

Mr Carthy said: "In order to force the Irish people to pay 43% of the cost of the European banking crisis Dublin governments have introduced several new stealth taxes and charges that have caused devastation and hardship to many families.

"These taxes have not led to improved services; they have each been unfair and have targeted those on lower incomes disproportionately.

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"Well, now the Irish people have had enough. In their tens and hundreds of thousands, Irish communities have joined together and marched against the latest tax on their families.

"The Irish government calls it a water charge - the Irish people see it for what it is - another tax that, if introduced, will put many people over the edge and will further hamper our domestic economies.

"That, under pressure, the government has now introduced temporary caps prove that this charge has nothing to do with water conservation but is just another attack on Irish families' incomes.

"I want to take this opportunity to declare in the European Parliament, as it has been declared on streets of every Irish town - the water tax will be defeated and a new economic policy based on fairness and prosperity and against the austerity agenda will follow."

(CD/JP)