Water charges chair quits with Government in turmoil as FF threatens to withdraw support

The Government have been left scrambling to find a new chairperson for the commission on water charges after its chairman was forced to resign over his views and comments.

Joe O’Toole effectively became the first victim of new politics in Leinster House after Fianna Fáil threatened to pull its support of the Government unless he stepped down.

Mr O’Toole’s resignation came after remarks in an interview in the Irish Examiner this week about left-wing politicians and water charges sparked calls for him to go.

There are now claims that the commission is in crisis ahead of a crucial visit by Housing Minister Simon Coveney to Brussels this week, where he will seek to justify Ireland suspending water charges for nine months.

Mr Coveney’s spokespeople last night failed to answer queries about how a new commission chair will be found.

Furthermore, the commission’s remaining seven members have now come under scrutiny after Mr O’Toole’s comments, which were seen as supporting a charging system.

Joe O'Toole's resignation statement in which he lashes FF for taking him down #iestaff pic.twitter.com/yI8HPLoAKm

— Daniel McConnell (@McConnellDaniel) July 5, 2016

People Before Profit’s Bríd Smith told the Dáil that a number of the members had been linked with water charges abroad, including the former chairman of Scottish Water, Peter Peacock, as well as Bill Emery, the former director of the British Energy regulator.

“Based on this selection, the commission will be a complete sham,” said Ms Smith.

Mr Coveney told a committee yesterday that while charges were now suspended, unpaid bills or arrears would also not be pursued in the meantime.

However, Mr Coveney, with questions hanging over the commission’s future, must now outline to environment commissioner Karmenu Vella in a scheduled meeting this Friday why Ireland is freezing charges and why we should not be fined by Brussels.

Mr O’Toole yesterday blamed his decision to step down as chairman on his “straight-talking” and Fianna Fáil’s ability to control the Government.

Joe O'Toole lashes FF for making his position untenable as his straight talking forces his resignation as chair of Water Commission #iestaff

— Daniel McConnell (@McConnellDaniel) July 5, 2016

He said Mr Coveney had informed him yesterday that Fianna Fáil would not co-operate with the Government as long he remained on as chairman.

The former trade union boss said: “Effectively, then, for me to remain in situ would result in the Government being spancilled in implementing policy and enacting legislation.”

Mr O’Toole said walking away was disappointing but was the right thing to do.

He said: “I am comfortable with the fact that I put my views honestly and transparently on the record.

“It is regrettable that my straight-talking has caused difficulties for others but in that regard I am unlikely to change anytime soon.”

In the interview with the Irish Examiner, the former senator had criticised left-wing politicians, said that he supported water charges, and mooted the idea of Irish Water ‘bonds’ being sold.

Mr O’Toole had said he found it “extraordinary” that left-wing politicians are “opposed” to the ‘polluter pays’ principle and they, including Anti Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy, were “completely and utterly wrong”.

Separate comments Mr O’Toole made on radio, that the job of the commission was to find a solution that would “have enough sugar on it to make the medicine go down easily”, also led to opposition TDs suggesting that the water body had a predesigned role to make water charges acceptable.

However, Mr O’Toole’s resignation adds to the Government’s troubling week. Taoiseach Enda Kenny was effectively slapped down on Monday by the North’s first minister for suggesting — without consulting — the idea of an all-island forum on the impact of Brexit.

Mr Kenny has also been forced to give Independent Alliance ministers a free vote on abortion legislation in the Dáil tomorrow.

Fianna Fáil last night said it took “no pleasure” in Mr O’Toole’s departure but believed he had done the right thing.

Local government spokesman Barry Cowen said: “The decision of the chair to pre-empt any examination of the facts and promote his personal view of what should happen next is clearly incompatible with the role he was appointed to.”