Tens of thousands of people joined a mass protest in Dublin against austerity measures needed to secure an international bailout for Ireland, as speculation grew of an imminent deal. Protesters marched through Dublin denouncing the bailout and calling on prime minister Brian Cowen to quit. A spokeswoman for the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, which organised the march, said about 150,000 people took part in protest. The marchers denounced an austerity package unveiled by Mr. Cowen's government on Wednesday, which signaled major welfare cuts, tax rises and the loss of 25,000 public sector jobs over the next four years to help pay off a massive deficit.