Coalition will not cave in and abolish levies

Environment Minister Alan Kelly has ruled out caving into widespread demands to completely abolish water charges and said the charging regime is here to stay.

His comments came as his Coalition colleague, Health Minister Leo Varadkar, faced criticism for saying he was bothered by people protesting over having to pay €3 a week.

The controversial comments led to accusations that the Fine Gael minister was arrogant and out of touch with people. Mr Kelly said yesterday that the Coalition would not be further reducing water charges or scrapping the controversial levy.

Speaking ahead of protests that brought Dublin city centre to a standstill, the Labour minister said that almost one million homes had signed up for the levy and that the majority of people would pay it.

“I’m very content in relation to where we are on Irish Water. There is no other route, it’s as simple as that. I don’t envisage anything changing in relation to the package at all.”

Mr Kelly said his predecessor Phil Hogan could have handled the issue of water charges better and that mistakes had been made. He also said he had no problem with protesters.

However, Cabinet colleague Leo Varadkar came in for criticism after he questioned why people were taking to the streets over the levy.

He said there were problems to be addressed, such as unemployment and patients waiting on trolleys, but added: “It really bothers me that people are out protesting about €3 a week on water charges, we have much bigger problems in our society.”

The €3 a week is the amount it will cost a household of two or more adults for their water when bills arrive next April.

But Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan accused the minister of being “arrogant” and “out of touch”, while there was also criticism of the remarks on social networking sites and among demonstrators.

Meanwhile, Coalition TDs have dismissed concerns that the Government could sell off Irish Water. Former junior minister Fergus O’Dowd told the Dáil on Tuesday night there were forces at work with agendas to privatise the utility company.

The Fine Gael TD said he remained “deeply concerned at other agendas, they may be European … I don’t know where they are coming from…” and that we have “real reason to be concerned” about Irish Water being privatised.

Party colleague Alan Farrell said new rules agreed by the Coalition meant there would have to be a referendum if there was a move to sell off Irish Water.

“There was never an agenda by Fine Gael to privatise Irish Water,” the Dublin TD told Today FM.