THOUSANDS took part in the latest round of yellow vests protests in France yesterday as President Emmanuel Macron announced a national debate in a bid to quell the growing unrest.

More than 84,000 demonstrators took to the streets across the country, an increase on the previous week according to official figures as the movement shows no sign of abating.

Concessions offered by Mr Macron, including a pause in the fuel tax which triggered the protests and a rise in the minimum wage, have been rejected as protests continued for the ninth week.

Police mobilised across the capital and used tear gas and water cannon as clashes broke out near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris with 244 people arrested across the country.

Mr Macron has initiated a series of debates which will take place online and in public halls across France to discuss four themes: taxes, green energy, institutional reform and citizenship.

However protesters have dismissed the plans as a gimmick and called for Mr Macron to resign and call fresh elections.

The yellow vests have become a symbol of resistance with attempts by the far right to hijack the movement rejected by the large majority of those involved in the protests.

Protesters in Ireland called for the resignation of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as they gathered in Dublin yesterday for a fifth week with a list of demands including citizen-initiated referendums and an end to evictions.

In Belfast hundreds gathered for a protest demanding an end to austerity, investment in public services and housing and equal marriage rights.

Organisers rejected proposals to hold a joint demonstration with the self-proclaimed Yellow Vest Movement of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to prevent far-right extremists from hijacking the event.