Four more males have been arrested in connection with last November's water charge protest in Jobstown in Dublin in which the Tánaiste was trapped in her car for over two hours.

The men were picked up this morning and are being detained at Tallaght and Rathfarnham Garda stations. They can be held for up to 24 hours.

It brings the number of people arrested this week in connection with the anti-water charges demonstration to 12.

Each of those detained earlier this week have since been released without charge.

TD Paul Murphy was released from garda custody on Monday afternoon, along with three other men who were also detained in connection with the incident.

Socialist TD Joe Higgins has claimed the government are trying to criminalise people who take part in water charge protests.