Around 100 water charge demonstrators have staged a sit down protest outside Leinster House in Dublin city centre.

A number of TDs and senators were blocked or delayed from entering or leaving Leinster House due to the protest.

There was a large garda presence at the scene for a time, but Kildare Street has since reopened to traffic.

Labour senators Mary Moran and Denis Landy had to abandon their cars on Kildare Street as the sit down protest continued.

Mr Landy later described the protest as an affront to democracy and the right of parliament to function.

A number of politicians from various political parties and groups were advised not to leave Leinster House this afternoon by car due to the protest.

Gardaí also had to intervene to allow Fine Gael TD Alan Shatter to drive past the protesters.

Members of the Garda Public Order Unit arrived after protesters blocked cars.

After some scuffles, the car was able to drive in to the front car park of Leinster House.

One man in his 30s was arrested this afternoon and charged with a public order offence.

Another man was arrested later.

One officer was treated for injuries believed to be a female garda hit by a flying bottle.

Protesters claim that gardaí used batons on some of them after stopping two cars belonging to politicians from leaving Leinster House.

More than 400 water charge protesters gathered outside Leinster House earlier today.

They were part of the Non-Payment Network protesting about new provisions of the Environmental Bill being debated in the Dáil.

Oireachtas members surrounded by gardai on Kildare street as sit in by protestors continues #rtenews pic.twitter.com/BBawrjNNeR — Martina Fitzgerald (@MartinaFitzg) July 1, 2015

The new provisions include landlords being required to say who their tenants are and that payment of water charges be part of tenancy agreements.

The bill also provides that unpaid water charges can be attached to the sale of a house.

Meanwhile, the Dáil Committee on Procedure and Privileges has requested that the Garda Commissioner go to Leinster House tomorrow in order to discuss concerns about guaranteeing access to the House.

TDs and senators blocked or delayed from entering or leaving Leinster House due to a protest https://t.co/Ydi4hU3L8z — RTÉ News (@rtenews) July 1, 2015

Speaking during the Dáil debate, Mr Shatter claimed that there was an anti-democratic mob protesting outside Leinster House and that the garda response was inadequate.

He said that what was happening today should not be allowed to be repeated.

Socialist Party TD Ruth Coppinger asked that Mr Shatter withdraw his description of the people protesting as "facists".

Ms Coppinger was told to take her seat, as the description did not relate to anyone in the House.

Catherine Murphy's earlier call to have the entire bill re-committed to committee stage was refused.