Sinn Féin introduces legislation to scrap water charges once and for all

Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD and party spokesperson on Water Eoin Ó Broin TD have submitted draft legislation to ‘scrap water charges once and for all. Sinn Féin will stop Fianna Fáil reintroducing water charges by the back door.’

Teachta McDonald said:

“The problem for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael is that nobody believes them when it comes to water charges. Their record speaks for itself. They can’t be trusted. It took a massive demonstration of people’s power to defeat their water charges the last time.

“Weasel words from Minister James Browne cannot change this fact. A departmental report was commissioned. They are clearly looking at introducing domestic water charges through the back door, under the guise of a charge for so-called excessive use. This is nothing more than a Trojan Horse for the introduction of domestic water charges for all households. It’s the thin end of the wedge.

“This morning, my party colleague Eoin Ó Broin and I have submitted draft legislation to repeal Part 2 of the Water Services Act 2017. This would emphatically rule out the reintroduction of water charges by this or future governments.

“We are seeking to introduce this legislation as a matter of urgency and to table it during private members time at the earliest possible opportunity.

“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael should know that words are not good enough if they want the people to believe that they have no plans to introduce water charges. They must act. They should support our Bill to take water charges off the table when it comes to a debate and vote in the Dáil in the coming weeks.

“It’s time to put the issue of water charges to bed once and for all.”