Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Nobody knows more about diversionary tactics than do the Taoiseach and his Government, particularly on this issue. If we want an explanation for all their twists, turns and contradictory statements, it is that they have underestimated the determination of ordinary citizens - people who never were on a protest in their lives - to come out against the plan to charge them for water. The Taoiseach has been forced to back down. His Ministers have come into this House and criticised previous Ministers. After six years of pursuing austerity policies, the Government just did not envisage the level of resistance we have witnessed. Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets. Others who cannot participate support the very basic position that they should not have to pay again for water. People are not asking for the Taoiseach just to reduce the charges, bring in sweeteners or give more of the types of briefings he has been giving to the media. They want him to scrap the water charges. That is it.

The Taoiseach says he will not support the Bill we are introducing, which embeds the right to water in the Constitution. Yet Labour Party Members in the Seanad supported this proposal. What will the Labour Deputies do when it comes to a vote in this House? Can the Taoiseach not review what he has said, support the people's right to water, scrap the water charges and embed this right in the Constitution?

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