A Socialist Party TD - who took part in Saturday's water charge protest in Dublin - is accusing the Tanaiste of hamming it up.

Paul Murphy is insisting that the protest was peaceful - and that those throwing items were not part of the demonstration.

The Dublin South West deputy is also accusing the Gardai of adopting a heavy-handed approach to deal with protestors.

Our News Correspondent Fergal O'Brien reports:

Meanwhile a minister has lashed out after a bomb threat was phoned to his office this morning.

The phone call to Alan Kelly's office in Nenagh comes as ministers come to terms with the increasingly bitter campaign against water charges. 

One minister labelled the actions of some protestors as "thuggery" - and the cabinet is likely to discuss ministerial security, as well as the new water regime, at their meeting tomorrow.

Our political correspondent Gavan Reilly reports on the political fallout: