03/08/2015

Fine Gael Accused Of 'Political Posturing' Over Irish Water

Fine Gael's Fergus O'Dowd has been accused of "political posturing", following his comments on the future of Irish Water.

Making the comments, Sinn Féin leader, Gerry Adams, said that there "is nothing like an impending General Election to concentrate the mind of Government TDs."

"Fergus O'Dowd was junior minister in the Department of the Environment when Irish Water was established and he repeatedly defended that policy in the Dáil and in the media," Mr Adams said.

“When it was crystal clear to everyone that the Government had made a huge mistake in setting up Irish Water and that the company was a shambolic mess,  Fergus O’Dowd not only dismissed the concerns of Sinn Féin and others as nonsense, but forcefully defended the Government and Irish Water.

"Of course there is nothing like a General Election to concentrate the mind of Government TDs, and that is obviously what lies behind Fergus O'Dowd's political conversion on this issue.

"Unfortunately for Fergus O'Dowd, while he may take voters for fools, they can see right through his latest electoral posturing.

"Irish Water and domestic Water Charges are doomed and those TDs associated with supporting them will be seeking to distance themselves from that policy in increasing numbers the closer we get to an election.

(MH)

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