David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

They should take their medicine and sit and listen. If Deputy Kelleher sits there and listens for a second, he might learn something. This is what is in the amendment tabled by the Government today. Fianna Fáil is part of this temporary little arrangement with Fine Gael and the Independents who signed up to this as well. It states "that Irish Water will be retained as a single national utility". People did not vote for Irish Water to be retained. The Minister is talking about keeping Irish Water as it is, setting up this commission that will examine how we can tweak and amend it. In a briefing document to his own party members he states that this is about building public confidence in Irish Water. The Minister is trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the people by pretending he is doing something but in essence he is keeping the failed utility.

This amendment the Government has tabled is a vote of confidence in Irish Water when the people have voted to abolish Irish Water. It also states in the amendment it has put before us, which is a subversion of the democratic will of the people, that water charges are to be suspended for nine months. Fianna Fáil knows the people did not vote for a suspension of water charges for nine months. The Minister and the Fine Gael Party know that the people did not vote for a suspension of water charges. We had a chance and have it again here today, which the Minister can take, to implement the will of the people. Water charges are dead and Irish Water is dead. That is the will of the people. The Minister can give it a decent burial in this Chamber today by accepting the Sinn Féin motion-----

See this speech in context