Dáil row dampens hopes of deal for future of funding water services

Attempts to agree on the future of funding water services have already divided TDs, after a Dáil row broke out yesterday about a new committee which will examine water charges.

A report from a special commission on water charges will next week go before the new committee on water charges, to be chaired by Independent Senator Pádraig O Ceidigh. The 20 members will be formally announced today but a row broke out yesterday in the Dail over how the chair and members was decided by the Government.

Cork North Central AAA-PBP TD Mick Barry said: “Let’s be clear on what’s going on here. This is an attempt on the part of the government with support on the Fianna Fáil benches to pull a sly one on the issues of the water charges committee.”