Q&A: How did Irish Water become central to potential coalition deals?
Depending on who you ask, either ensuring voters get what they want, or politicians cynically trying to trip up their nearest rivals after a bruising election campaign.
As the fallout from the general election stalemate continues, pressure is continuing to grow on Fine Gael to cut a deal for power that will involve the dismantling of Irish Water.
After senior Fianna Fáil figures suggested that scrapping Irish Water needs to be considered if any deal is struck, on Tuesday night Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said his own party would be “willing to talk about water charges”.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny attempted to address the issue during a pre-arranged media event at Collins Barracks in Dublin yesterday, when he said scrapping the utility would be a “costly and seriously historic mistake”.
However, the fact the issue is now central to imminent government negotiations and Fine Gael needs to offer opposition parties a carrot to come on board means the very future of Irish Water is now in doubt.
In short Irish Water stays, goes, or a halfway house is created to allow both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil save face.
Fine Gael officially insists it is, like Margaret Thatcher, not for turning on the issue, with a spokesperson saying last night that the party’s view “is clear and will not change”.
However, privately, some TDs believe a deal could be struck where charges are deferred for a number of years, a possibility which may be discussed at today’s parliamentary party meeting.
Fianna Fáil, separately, wants Irish Water to be downsized into a national oversight body like the National Roads Authority, with water supply management returned to local authorities.
Crucially, the party also wants charges to be delayed at least five years, at which point it is hoped noticeable improvements in water services will be apparent.
Whoever is in government next could also see Irish Water as a busted flush and just scrap the whole concept entirely.
It depends. If Irish Water continues non-payers will, eventually, be brought to court to pay their debts.
However, in the increasingly likely event that Irish Water ceases to exist, paying the charges will be like putting money down the drain.
Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil — the two parties likely to form some part of the next government — want people to continue paying as it is currently the law, while the Green Party also believes bills should be paid for now.
However, all three have not exactly had a great track record over the past eight years in getting people to do what they want them to do.
No. And this is a key issue that is not getting enough attention to date.
It won’t be what hard-pressed households who were forced into paying the charge want to hear, but none of the major parties — including those seeking the removal of Irish Water — will give you your money back if the utility is dissolved.
Fine Gael did not address the question as the party formally insists Irish Water is here to stay, while Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin figures believe the country cannot afford any repayments.
While the removal of water charges may help your personal finances in the future, any money you have already spent on the bills is unlikely to ever be retrieved.
Ultimately it all comes down to the ongoing power struggle between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.
Fianna Fáil has opposed Irish Water in opposition and insisted it needs to be replaced with a much smaller and more transparent utility, saying water charges should be delayed for at least five years — when noticeable service improvements should be apparent.
However, a cynic would note Irish Water is Fine Gael’s Achilles heel and that the fact the utility’s future is dominating post-election debate suits Fianna Fáil’s plans perfectly.
Which side of the fence you fall on depends how much you trust the sincerity of Ireland’s politicians.
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