Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am just trying, for the benefit of an Teachta Rabbitte, to spread the blame to both the last Government and this one.

The point is well made that these matters require separate legislation. As I said previously, they require a full pre-legislative debate with stakeholders, a Second Stage debate, a full Committee Stage and Report Stage. The whole controversy about Irish Water and the water charge has been dogged by incompetence on the part of the Government. Leaving aside the issue that it is a totally unfair and unnecessary tax, the Government has sought to use its clout on a compliant bunch of backbenchers to press it through.

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