Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I listened to some of the Fianna Fáil contributions to the debate last night. They seemed rather sore and their contributions were worthy of pantomime season in the Everyman Theatre or the Gaiety Theatre. We heard of "magic money", "grandstanding" and "empty rhetoric". It was all very entertaining stuff but it was part of a vain attempt to distract from the fact that Fianna Fáil will vote with the Government against a simple and clear motion calling for the end of water charges and the end of Irish Water, which will not fool anyone. We heard talk of U-turns. This is after Fianna Fáil, having carried out an Olympic U-turn ahead of the election, moved from being the authors of water charges, to being opposed to them, to turning on its heels yet again and falling behind the Government. This is a sign of things to come.

Fianna Fáil signed up to a confidence and supply agreement. We have been critical of that deal and how it is an attempt to hoodwink the electorate. However, this is not a confidence motion. Fianna Fáil Members are at liberty to vote how they wish on the motion. If they are truly opposed to water charges and if they want rid of them for good, they should vote for it. We heard that the motion has no legal effect. Can I take it then that Fianna Fáil will not in future use Private Members' business to debate a motion and to give voice to the will of the Dáil on important issues? Ar ndóigh, feicim seacht rúin faoi láthair sínithe ag Teachtaí Fhianna Fáil ar riar pháipéir an lá inné ar cheisteanna ar nós tithíocht agus an Garda Síochána. Is rúin suntasacha agus fiúntacha atá ann agus bheinn sásta tacú leo dá mbeadh díospóireacht ann. Why should the Dáil not express its wish to get rid of water charges and Irish Water? The people have had their say. We committed to ensuring, at the first opportunity on Private Members' business, that we would ask the Dáil to have a vote on this matter. Deputies have the chance for the first time in this Dáil to vote on water charges and to keep their commitments to their constituents.

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