39 TDs back motion to immediately scrap water charges

Thirty-nine opposition TDs have backed a Dáil motion to immediately scrap water charges and hold a referendum to prevent water services from privatisation, pressurising Fianna Fáil to refuse any deal that ignores their pre-election promises.

Sinn Féin, AAA-PBP, Social Democrats, the four-strong Independents for Change, and unaligned Independents Catherine Connolly, Seamus Healy, and Thomas Pringle confirmed the motion will be placed before the Dáil at the next available opportunity. The future of the utility continues to dominate government-formation talks.

Speaking at a joint press briefing outside Leinster House, the groups said that, regardless of any Fine Gael-Fianna Fáil deal, Micheál Martin’s party had an obligation to ensure water charges were scrapped, as it promised voters before the election.