Election more likely as main parties differ on water charges
Micheál Martin’s party said last night it will “remain true to our commitments and manifesto” in seeking the suspension of the fees for the duration of the next Dáil, potentially ending any hopes of a compromise deal.
In a bid to break the ongoing political deadlock, acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny told Fianna Fáil leader Mr Martin at the weekend he was willing to suspend water charges while an independent commission was set up to examine how a new fee system would work.
Fine Gael believed the move would help to end the standoff, on the condition that charges will return once the period ended.
However, during four hours of talks yesterday, Fianna Fáil repeatedly said the plan falls far short of its demands. It is understood Fianna Fáil believes it cannot agree to the deal because it will mean water charges will be returned before the next election.
However, with senior Fine Gael figures saying last night they want a conclusion one way or the other this weekend, the growing standoff is increasing the prospect of a new election being called.
Speaking after leaving the talks last night, acting Agriculture Minister and Fine Gael negotiating team member Simon Coveney denied talks are at their “lowest ebb”, but admitted the public is “losing patience with the process”.
He said Mr Kenny “tried to move on that over the weekend and we would like a response to that proposal from Fianna Fáil in the morning”.
However, speaking just moments later, Fianna Fáil counterpart Barry Cowen said “there hasn’t been a breakthrough” and that his party “will remain true to our commitments and manifesto”.
Meanwhile, the Fine Gael offer to freeze charges for a fixed period has caused a separate crisis for the party, with a number of backbench TDs warning they will not support any such deal with Fianna Fáil.
Speaking to the Irish Examiner last night, Wexford TD Michael D’Arcy said if a suspension happened, “that’s the end of Irish Water” and that to change direction now would be an insult to TDs who fought the election based on the logic of a charges system.
He said his party voted “unanimously” in favour of keeping charges at its parliamentary party two weeks ago and that no compromise deal will be agreed when this week’s parliamentary party meeting.
Kildare South TD Martin Heydon was similarly vocal saying any suspension deal with Fianna Fáil would be tantamount to the party turning its back on candidates “who took a lot of punishment”, while Regina Doherty said it would be a very large climbdown.
Noel Rock and party chair Catherine Byrne said they wanted to wait until the exact details of any agreement emerged before they backed a water-charges system, while Martin Heydon, Andrew Doyle and Brendan Griffin all criticised a deal.
Mr Martin said the chances of a talks resolution this week are 50/50. Fine Gael’s acting Finance Minister Michael Noonan said “if progress is made, it will be inching forward slowly”.
