Junior Finance Minister heckled by household charge protesters
Junior Finance Minister Brian Hayes has been heckled and shouted at by protesters in Waterford today, at the marking of an €8.5m investment in the city.
Minister Hayes was visiting the Peoples Park to turn the sod on the final phase of the city's flood alleviation scheme.
Around 20 protesters from the local campaign against the household charge surrounded him as he tried to carry out the ceremonial function.
Speaking afterwards, Minister Hayes said that everyone has a right to protest.
"I encourage people to exercise their democratic right," he said.
"But I'll make this point - without the money we've obtained through our international funders, the IMF, the ECB, the European Commission and others, we wouldn't have the money to invest in Waterford here today.
"We wouldn't have eight and a half million to put into a scheme to help people protect their homes."
