Fianna Fáil defends its water charges deal with Fine Gael

Fianna Fáil has staunchly defended its deal with Fine Gael to suspend instead of abolish water charges, claiming an opposition motion to scrap the fees immediately is little more than “political point scoring”.

Barry Cowen, Fianna Fáil’s housing and local government spokesman, lashed out at the bid to remove the charges as soon as possible, as 39 left-leaning TDs insisted a mere suspension is not what February’s election result demanded.

In one of the first Dáil private members’ motion debates since the Government was formed, Sinn Féin last night tabled a motion calling for charges to be “immediately abolished” and for a referendum on the public ownership of water to be confirmed.

The motion was placed during the party’s speaking time on behalf of 39 Right-2Water TDs from Sinn Féin, AAA-PBP, Social Democrats, and Independents.

They insisted an immediate scrapping of fees is what people voted for and accused Fianna Fáil and Independents in Government of turning their backs on voters.

Mr Cowen said this view is untrue and “wilfully ignores” the progress that has been made in suspending the charges.

Labelling the motion as “political opportunism”, “point scoring”, and “simple grand-standing”, the Offaly TD said the reality is that “charges are coming to an end”.

His view was repeated by colleagues Shane Cassells and Timmy Dooley, who said Fianna Fáil will not vote in favour of the motion — sparking heavy criticism from the opposition on the first of a two-day debate.

Describing the anti-water campaign as “one of the most important social movements in recent history”, Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Broin said Fianna Fáil had “flip-flopped” on its pre-election anti-water promise.

Colleague David Cullinane said that “Irish Water is dead, you should give it a decent burial now in this chamber”, while AAA-PBP TD Mick Barry criticised Independent Alliance TDs Finian McGrath and John Halligan for “crossing the line”.

The opposition motion — which Mr Ó Broin insisted yesterday morning was not designed to “embarrass” Fianna Fáil — is almost certain to be defeated in tonight’s vote, which will follow a Right2Water Dáil protest at 5pm. Fine Gael will vote for its own counter- motion in support of the programme for government plan and Fianna Fáil for its separate but similar motion, meaning the opposition will not have enough TD support.