'The people did not vote for a suspension of water charges', Ó Caoláin claims

A local Sinn Féin TD has insisted that the Irish people did not vote for a suspension of water charges, but for their abolition. 

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin claimed that Fianna Fáil had reneged on their election promises through their compromise to support the Fine Gael led minority government.

Deputy Ó Caoláin made the comments last night as a Sinn Feín motion to abolish water charges was overturned by a Government ammendment, carried by 60 votes to 39, in favour of suspending water charges and setting up an independent commission. A Labour amendment to the Sinn Féin motion proposing to refund water charges in full to those who had paid was defeated by 47 votes to 59.

“Since its initial proposal, the prospect of water charges has infuriated ordinary people the length and breadth of this country. People came together and revolted against this unjust tax and took to the streets in their tens of thousands. The effectiveness and the potential of ‘people power’ in any social movement for change has never been so glaringly demonstrated,' said the Cavan-Monaghan TD.

Anger

“Hundreds of thousands of people took their anger to the ballot boxes and in February this year, the majority of Irish people voted to scrap water charges and to place Irish Water in the dustbin of history.

“Most of the Dáil deputies elected to this house made pre-election pledges to abolish water charges and to do away with the entity known as Irish Water- even Fianna Fáil. However, in the new deal struck between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael they have only managed to secure a ‘suspension’. People do not want a suspension. They want these charges scrapped all together.

'Shambolic'

“Irish Water and water charges are an affront to people across this land. It is time for Government therefore, to respect the democratic will of the people and to end this shambolic situation once and for all.

“The path forward is clear; abolish domestic water charges immediately, establish a public water and sanitation board to deliver water on the basis of need, and set a date for a referendum to enshrine the public ownership of water services in Bunreacht na hÉireann.”