Local water woes for Labour TDs

LABOUR Party TDs on the Southside have been bearing the brunt of local anger over the contentious water charges issue.

Last week, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Eamon Gilmore, insisted that water charges would not be introduced in January of next year.

He said the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, and Minister for Public Expenditure, Brendan Howlin, would be discussing a new target date for the introduction of the charges with the troika.

However, his comments were made just days after Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan said the official date for commencement of water charges remained January 1, 2014, as agreed with the troika by the Fianna Fáil-led government in 2010.

Mr Gilmore said these comments had been misinterpreted, leading to accusations on the Southside that the Government was

“making it up

? as it went on water reform.

A Fianna Fáil representative in Dublin South Central, Daithí de Róiste, said:

“The more we hear from individual ministers on the issue of water reform, the clearer it becomes that the Government is making it up as it goes along.

“Just days after the minister responsible for water charges, Phil Hogan, confirmed that charges will be introduced on January 1, 2014, the Labour Party leader attempted to overrule him,

? Mr de Róiste said.

“Labour has two TDs in Dublin South Central and I feel they need to clarify exactly what is happening in Government around this misinformation.

?

He added:

“I have spoken to countless numbers of people this week, especially OAPs who are already at their wits’ end worrying about how to find a way to pay the unfair property tax, and this has added to their feeling of isolation and despair.

“Clarity as to what is happening in Labour and Fine Gael at Government level is needed and needed soon.

?

One of Labour’s TDs in Dublin South Central, Eric Byrne, refused to be drawn into the controversy with a representative at his office saying the deputy had no comment to make.

A spokesperson at Deputy Michael Conaghan’s office said the TD was unavailable for comment.

However, Cllr Richard Humphreys, the Labour Party councillor for the Stillorgan ward, welcomed the announcement by the Tánaiste that water charges will not be introduced next year.

“I attended a special meeting of Labour councillors in Gorey at the weekend which passed a motion calling for the postponement of water charges,

? he said.

“I am glad that the Tánaiste has responded so positively and has confirmed that water charges will be put off until 2015.

?

Sinn Féin’s Ballyfermot representative, Daithí Doolan, said the Labour Party was deferring the introduction of water charges to avoid election meltdown.

“The statement from Labour leader Eamon Gilmore that water charges will not be introduced next year has everything to do with avoiding meltdown rather than any lack of water meters,

? he claimed.

“The introduction of water charges in advance of next year’s local elections would ensure meltdown for the Labour Party.

?

He added: “If the Government tries to burden households with this enormous cost, it will be a disaster for family budgets.

?