Taoiseach Enda Kenny was surrounded by protesters yesterday at the opening of a care centre for the elderly at St Joseph's Hospital in Raheny, Dublin.
It was the second of two protests over the controversial installation of water metres in the area.
Earlier, in the nearby Tonlagee Drive, a 50-year-old man was brought to Beaumont Hospital with minor injuries after claims he had been knocked to the ground during an anti-water metering protest.
Gardaí maintained a presence as about 20 protesters attempted to prevent ongoing works.
People Before Profit Councillor John Lyons said locals were surprised by the large Garda presence as residents had been mounting peaceful protests for the past 2½ weeks.
He said residents believed gardaí were facilitating Irish Water in installing metres.
