Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has said he changed his mind about paying water charges after taking part in a protest march in Dundalk last week.

When Sinn Féin launched its pre-budget submission last month, Mr Adams, Mary-Lou McDonald and other senior party figures said they would pay water charges.

“When I was on the march in Dundalk the week of recess meeting with people, an awful lot of people are afraid, an awful lot, particularly older people who can’t pay and are wondering what is going to happen,” Mr Adams said.

“And it’s in solidarity with them that I changed my position. The arrogant bullying tactics of the government on this issue. The way that the Taoiseach just dismisses people’s concerns.”

Speaking to reporters on the plinth outside Leinster House this afternoon, Mr Adams described as "patronising" Minister for Finance Michael Noonan's remark that people would leave the lights on if electricity was free.

Mr Adams accused Taoiseach Enda Kenny of being deferential to big bankers while “ignoring the plight of the small people”.

He said elderly people were respectful and law abiding and did not want to be in debt, but they could not afford to pay another bill.

“On this issue nothing will suffice but the scrapping of water charges,” Mr Adams said.

Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald said the party was not telling people what to do about their Irish Water bills.

“We do that borne from bitter experience where others told people not to pay various charges and compounded the difficulties people were in,” she said.

Ms McDonald announced at the weekend she would not pay her bill.

The party's environment spokesperson Brian Stanley will today in the Dáil seek a constitutional referendum to ensure that control over the water services remains in public ownership.