RTÉ recruiting anti-Water protesters: Rabbitte

Former communications minister Pat Rabbitte has accused RTÉ of acting as a “recruiting sergeant” for Sinn Féin and far left groups opposed to the Coalition’s water charges.

The Labour TD said in the Dáil last night that “lopsided coverage” of the water issue may have come from a decision by RTÉ’s board to “strangle Irish Water at birth”.

The unprecedented remarks about the broadcaster come as the Coalition attempts to persuade households to pay water bills, which will begin arriving in letterboxes in the coming weeks.