An Irish Water employee was threatened by a man with an imitation gun yesterday.

It happened when the worker was installing meters at Emmet Square in Blackrock on Dublin's southside at a quarter to four yesterday afternoon.

A man in his 20s was detained for questioning at the local garda station. He was released without charge last night.

A file is being prepared for the DPP, and the imitation firearm has been seized by gardaí.

Yesterday, Irish Water reassured people over their use of customers' personal information.

The company was reacting to weekend newspaper reports focusing on the 'small print' on their website in relation to the use and storage of data.

Irish Water is in the process of sending out application packs to households around the country, with the first bills expected to arrive in January.