By Fiachra O Cionnaith and Daniel McConnell
Both the Taoiseach and the Fianna Fáil leader have been met by protestors at separate events in Dublin and Waterford.
Micheál Martin was on a visit to Crumlin in the Dublin South Central constituency, when he was heckled by members of the Right 2 Change movement, and anti-austerity charges protesters..
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[/raw]Today started well for Micheal Martin with polls indicating rising support for Fianna Fáil. Then this happened #ge16 pic.twitter.com/WMfzKH8iPG
— Naomi O'Leary (@NaomiOhReally) February 22, 2016
Planned visits to local shops were cancelled as a result of the demonstration.
About to start a street canvass with local councillor Catherine Ardagh, Mr Martin was subjected to repeated chanting from the group which arrived at her constituency office. The handful of protesters repeatedly chanted: "Banks got bailed out, we got sold out".
As tensions escalated, Mr Martin was ushered into a nearby car with Ms Ardagh. At this point, the protesters stood in front of the car and refused to move for a number of moments.
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[/raw]"Angry anti-austerity protesters chase Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin out of Crumlin village #ge16 pic.twitter.com/pzoQteOUmp" #dubsc
— John O'Donovan (@JohnJODonovan) February 22, 2016
Mr Martin's car then travelled to a nearby street and he sped to the car, but once again the car was blocked by the protesters for a short time.
Mr Martin then attempted to continue his canvass, walking down the village’s Main Street.
He walked in and out of businesses and local shops trying to canvass, but the protesters continued to heckle.
Mr Martin told one protestor he was denying people the freedom of mobility, and told the protesters they were being "undemocratic" by trying to prevent him walk the streets..
He said: "You should allow people freedom of speech and the freedom of mobility, and you're not doing that."
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Enda Kenny had to deal with a group of anti-water protesters at an event in Waterford.
The under-fire Fine Gael leader had to contend with loud shouts of 'Kenny, Kenny, Kenny, out, out, out'. Minor instances of "argy-bargy" broke out as gardaí attempted to clear a path for Mr Kenny's car through the small group of protesters.
Mr Kenny had just arrived at the offices of Eistec when the protesters began their heckling.
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[/raw]Around a dozen protesters chanting in Waterford as Enda Kenny visits the city #GE16 pic.twitter.com/3bFMv8nJbC
— Pat McGrath (@patmcgrath) February 22, 2016
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[/raw]Anti-water charge protesters heckle Taoiseach Enda Kenny in Waterford ##GE16 pic.twitter.com/txrHd6hT6x
— Cormac McQuinn (@CormacMcQuinn) February 22, 2016
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[/raw]Around a dozen protestors jeered and heckled Taoiseach Enda Kenny in Waterford this morning #GE16 pic.twitter.com/BIdiep4jOB
— Fergal O'Brien TV3 (@FergalOBrienTV3) February 22, 2016
