Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

People have taken to the streets in their tens of thousands to tell the Government to axe the water charges. They have told it loud and clear that this is a bridge too far, they cannot pay and have no more to give. They now want to know why the Government is not listening.

Sinn Féin, in its pre-budget submission, demonstrated for the Government that it can balance the books without introducing water charges. Is it sheer stubbornness or arrogance that motivates the Government? Water charges will hurt not only those who rely on social welfare but also those at work, the people who are described as the "working poor" who do not have any disposable income at the end of the week and who count the cents until pay day. The Government is hurting these people and does so with its eyes wide open because Ministers have been told their water charges will break many of these families.

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