Water charges debate a cynical old TD trick

On the surface, the water charges motion dominating the Dáil last night and this evening is focused on whether the fees should be abolished immediately.

However, beneath the surface there is a far more cynical reason for the debate. And, despite all talk since the election being about the need for new politics, it involves one of the oldest tricks in the TD book.

While they insist nothing could be further from the truth, the 39 Right2Water TDs who were behind Sinn Féin’s motion to “immediately abolish” water charges knew before even putting down the motion that the call would ultimately not lead to any Dáil action.