Michael Noonan ‘flexible’ on water charges to regain power

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan has become the highest-ranking Fine Gael politician to promise flexibility on water charges if the party is returned to government.

“Fine Gael’s position is that we want a national utility for water, rather than it reverting to local authorities,” Mr Noonan said in Brussels yesterday.

“We want water charged for, and it’s within that space that any discussions with a future partner in government will have to take place,” he said.