Phil Hogan silent on Irish Water

The environment minister who set up Irish Water and warned non-payers their service would be cut “to a trickle” has refused to say whether the utility should be scrapped.

Phil Hogan, now European agriculture commissioner, repeatedly declined to comment at a farming launch in Dublin yesterday.

Speaking after a week of increasing speculation that water charges could be scrapped or deferred as part of imminent government formation talks, the former TD washed his hands of any responsibility.