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Everyone’s talking about…

Ministers faced a backlash during the water charges protests at the weekend Adrian Acosta Adrian Acosta

The coalition looks set to respond to the significant anger on the streets of Dublin on Saturday by offering people further relief on their water bills. Various reports this morning indicate that a previously announced €100 subsidy for those on household benefits will be expanded to more welfare recipients. In addition, taxpayers will be able to claim tax relief of up to €100 on their annual bills.

With tens of thousands on the streets of the capital on Saturday at the same time that that an anti-water charges candidate was winning a Dáil seat in Dublin South-West it’s clear that this issue will not go away. In fact it’s only likely to get worse for the coalition once the bills start to land in the New Year.

The agenda… 

• The Dáil and Seanad don’t return until tomorrow when Budget 2015 will be the only show in town. 
• People Before Profit is launching its alternative Budget this morning.
• Eurozone finance minsters are meeting in Luxembourg today although Michael Noonan isn’t there because of tomorrow’s Budget.

Eamonn Farrell / Photocall Ireland Eamonn Farrell / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

What the others are saying…

• The Irish Independent says that gardaí are preparing to issue a warrant for the extradition of former Anglo chief executive David Drumm from the US.
• The Irish Times says that the government is planning to raise the threshold at which USC is paid by low and middle income workers as well as cut the top rate of income tax in tomorrow’s Budget. 
• Micheál Martin is safe because Fianna Fáil ‘doesn’t have a Winston Churchill or Franklin D Roosevelt’ in its ranks to challenge him, a party frontbencher has told the Irish Daily Mail. 

Inside the by-election counts…

The glamour of the Roscommon South-Leitrim count centre

In case you missed it… 

• Ten years ago, the Budget was an altogether different affair.
• Pat Rabbitte had a pop at independents. 
• Here’s what we learned from the two Dáil by-elections. 
• The justice minister wants to confront the deficiencies in An Garda Síochána. 

On the Twitter machine… 

This former junior minister had a good weekend

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