New TDs Urged To Scrap Water Charges 'Once And For All'

New TDs have been urged to "seize the opportunity to get rid of water charges once and for all" by Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan.

Deputy Boylan called on incoming TDs to demand that the Irish River Basin Management Submission be withdrawn and amended to reflect the election result.

In order to comply with the EU Water Framework Directive, each country submits its River Basin Management Scheme outlining how it complies with its requirements.

The current River Basin Management Scheme for Ireland has not been adopted by the EU Commission and won't be before 22 March. This River Basin Management plan must be now be withdrawn and amended to reflect the wishes of the electorate. 

Speaking from Brussels Ms Boylan said: "The majority of TDs elected to the new Dáil stood on an anti-water charges platform. Fine Gael were given a clear message by the electorate that water charges must go.

"They now have a duty to the electorate to withdraw this plan and inform the EU Commission that Ireland will not be implementing water charges. There is no obligation on Ireland to introduce water charges despite what many commentators have been spouting over the last week.

"While the EU's preferred method of cost recovery is through metering and individual consumption, it is not the only way."

Commentating on correspondence seen by the MEP, she added: "The EU Commission have specifically said that 'Responsibility for implementation lies with the Member States and there is NO obligation to follow particular schemes or methods.'

"They also go on to state that 'there is no specific requirement in Article 9 of the Water Framework Directive for cost recovery to rely on individual consumption.'"

(MH)