Too little, too late for Labour pressure over water charges

THE Coalition water fight over what most voters see as a tax too far has left both parties soaked with blame. Despite it being one of the key policies of the programme for government — and one of the most contentious — Labour did not wake up to its explosive political potential until very late.

After three years in power, it is only over the past three weeks that the junior coalition party scrambled to try and amend a pricing structure it believes Environment Minister Phil Hogan tried to “bounce” it into.

The move led to an unusual public spat between Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore as Labour finally moved to try and ease the impact of a charge many households see as the financial straw set to break their bill-paying backs.