Sinn Féin Tells The Dáil The 'Game Is Up' On Water Tax

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has told the Dáil that the "game is up" on the water tax "fiasco".

Mr Adams reiterated his call to the Taoiseach for the Water Charge to be scrapped, and asked him to "clear up the contradiction between a statement made by Tánaiste Joan Burton" that was later "flatly rejected by Mr Kenny."

Addressing the Taoiseach in the Dáil, Mr Adams said: "Taoiseach, yesterday the Tánaiste told the Dáil that a family of four adults would pay a Water Tax bill of €200 euro. Her statement was later quickly and flatly rejected by her own spokesperson and by your spokesperson.

"There were then media briefings from the Government that the Tanaiste was expressing a "personal view". So, here we have the Taoiseach repudiating the Tanaiste. The question is, which one of you is tweedle dum? And who is tweedle dee? Taoiseach, is the Tanaiste not part of the Government?

Mr Adams accused the government of rushing water charges through the Dáil at the end of 2013, while citizens were still waiting to be told how much they would be charged almost a year later.

"The Minister who introduced the Water Charges legislation says it has "abjectly failed". He described it as "arrogant, uncaring, and a cossetted quango with a bonus culture," Mr Adams said.

Adding: "Following unprecedented public protests, right across this State and a very clear rejection of your Water Tax in any shape or form, what you are telling me is that the Government has no idea of how much it is going to charge householders.

"Taoiseach, the game is up in relation to the fiasco of your attempt to impose a tax on water. Will you now recognise this reality and cease your ultimately doomed attempts to impose a tax that is not and will not be accepted by the citizens of this State?"

(MH/CD)