North Dublin Labour TD Mr Tommy Broughan has said he hoped the bin tax dispute would be resolved "at a national level", but like 38,000 Dublin householders, he chose "to continue the battle against these charges".
Speaking on RTÉ radio yesterday, Mr Broughan said that the law had to be respected but that he was one of many householders who have not paid the bin charges because "they profoundly disagree with this method of local taxation".
The TD admitted he believed in "strong local government and the individual fund-raising powers of local government but I don't believe in doing it this way".
"There isn't agreement; Dublin City would not have come in with this only for the - what I see as - intimidation of our council," said Mr Broughan.
As dozens of anti-service charges protesters picketed in Waterford yesterday afternoon, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Mr Cullen, expressed regret at the decision of some of his constituents to launch the street campaign.
"Everybody has a right to protest about anything but I regret that it is about this issue again."
The Minister was speaking in Waterford as activists from Sinn Féin, the Socialist Workers' Party, the Workers' Party and a number of residents' associations gathered for a rally.
"We have put a huge emphasis on recycling and it is going well. Everywhere I go people are talking about the success of Waterford," Mr Cullen said.
"The workers of this country have transformed our economy and now pay a very low rate of personal tax at just 20 per cent. But Ireland has to remain competitive on all levels. This includes services delivered under the local government system."
Asked on a regional radio station how he viewed the stance taken by Mr Joe Higgins TD and other protesters who have been committed to prison for their street protests, Mr Cullen said he found it ironic that those involved appeared to have no policies on the environment and, specifically, on how household waste should be best disposed of.
There's no such thing as a free bin - and Cullen knows it: WeekendReview