Household charge protest in Dublin

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Protestors show their anger with Fine Gael outside the National Convention Centre.

02/24

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Protesters prepare to march to the National Convention Centre.

03/24

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A protestor holds a placard with "Eurogimps" outside the National Convention Centre.

04/24

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Delegates to the Fine Gael Ard Fheis are hackled by protestors outside the National Convention Centre.

05/24

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Delegates to the Fine Gael Ard Fheis are hackled by protestors outside the National Convention Centre.

06/24

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Garda close the road outside the National Convention Centre as household tax protestor march on theFine Gael Ard Fheis.

07/24

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Protesters prepare to march to the National Convention Centre.

08/24

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Protester holds up a placard with picture of Phil Hogan with Hitler mustache.

09/24

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Delegates to the Fine Gael Ard Fheis are hackled by protestors outside the National Convention Centre.

10/24

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Delegates to the Fine Gael Ard Fheis are hackled by protestors outside the National Convention Centre.

11/24

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Delegates to the Fine Gael Ard Fheis are hackled by protestors outside the National Convention Centre.

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Protestor with placard as garda protect the National Convention Centre.

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Protestor with placard as garda protect the National Convention Centre.

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Protesters prepare to march to the National Convention Centre.

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Garda protect the National Convention Centre.

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Man with long beard holds up a placard.

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Protestors with banner outside the National Convention Centre.

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A delegate to the Fine Gael Ard Fheis who was mistaken for Phil Hogan by the protestors is rescued by the police.

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Scuffle as a delegate to the Fine Gael Ard Fheis is mistaken for Phil Hogan by the protestors.

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Scuffle as delegates to the Fine Gael Ard Fheis try to get to the National Convention Centre.

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Protestors show their anger with Fine Gael outside the National Convention Centre.

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Protestors outside the National Convention Centre.

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A protestor shows his anger with Fine Gael outside the National Convention Centre.

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Protesters prepare to march to the National Convention Centre.

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On the final day on which the new household charge must be paid, a protest against the charge is held in Dublin with a march to the Fine Gael Ard Fheis.

The Irish Government has introduced a new flat-rate property tax of 100 EURO for every household in the country. Since the Government does not have a database of every house in the country, home owners have to register and pay the tax by 31 March 2012. There has been widespread resistance to the charge, and only 50% of the estimated 1.6m households in the country are expected to register and pay the tax on time.

Coincidently, Fine Gael, the largest party in the coalition that governs Ireland, held its annual party conference (Ard Fheis) in Dublin on 31 March 2012.

About 5,000 protestors against the household charged march from Parnell Square to the National Convention Centre where Fine Gael was holding its Ard Fheis. Phil Hogan TD, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government was responsible for introducing the charge.

The protest was peaceful, but there were some scuffles between protesters and delegates to the Ard Fheis.