Oireachtas members are leaving Leinster House tonight after being prevented from doing so for several hours.
Two Labour party Senators - Denis Landy and Mary Moran - were forced to abandon their cars for a time on Kildare Street when the protestors sat on the street and refused to let them leave.
The number of protestors has since reduced and Gardai created a corridor to allow TDs and Senators leave.
Anti Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy came out to address the crowd after debating the water charges amendments in the Dáil chamber.
He called for the protest to be mounted again tomorrow as the debate on the legislation continues:
Stand off with two Oireachtas members cars ends as Gardai and protestors agree to stand down standoff #ntfm #dail pic.twitter.com/7nx6TtmDCW
— Páraic Gallagher (@paraicgallagher) July 1, 2015
Gardai have surrounded cars of Oireachtas members blocked by sit down protest on Kildare Steeet outside #dail #ntfm pic.twitter.com/Xsp4RtAP8Z
— Páraic Gallagher (@paraicgallagher) July 1, 2015
The Garda Commissioner has been requested to be present outside the Dáil tomorrow to ensure access to Leinster House for TDs, Senators and staff.
The Committee on Proceedures and Privileges has made the request of Noirin O'Sullivan in the wake of a protest today.
It saw the car of former Minister Alan Shatter surrounded by a number of protesters and another member was unable to leave to attend a medical appointment.
Sources say that Gardai had committed during security reviews in recent months that access to and from leinster House would be maintained during prtotests.
