Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will start with a saying with which many of us are familiar, never put off until tomorrow that which you can do today. Why suspend water charges for nine months when we can scrap them right here and now? We have the opportunity before us tonight to scrap water charges, which is what we promised the people we would do. Surely a promise made or a commitment given has to mean something. It does mean something to me. Tonight, I will vote to scrap water charges and abolish Irish Water as I promised the people I would.

Page 38 of the Fianna Fáil manifesto also contained a promise and commitment to, wait for it, abolish Irish Water and scrap water charges. In fairness, Fianna Fáil has a proven track record when it comes to broken promises. However, I will give it the opportunity tonight to redeem itself. I am calling on Fianna Fáil to honour the commitment it made to the people on page 38 of its election manifesto a mere three months ago. I am calling on Fianna Fáil to abolish Irish Water and scrap water charges by voting in support of this motion. It will also give Fianna Fáil an opportunity to break its cycle of broken promises. Tonight, Fianna Fáil should vote in favour of this motion and honour the commitment it gave to the people. As I said at the beginning, never put off until tomorrow that which you can do today.

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