Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Cowen should cross the floor and thank Teachta Ó Broin for giving him the opportunity to clarify Fianna Fáil's position because it has had more positions than the Kama Sutra on this issue. We are in dire need of clarification, and happily, Sinn Féin is in a position this evening to provide Fianna Fáil with an opportunity to send a very clear message to people who voted to oppose water charges. In case Teachta Cowen is under any illusions, people can tell the difference between abolition and suspension. They want water charges gone but they also want to see a commitment from Fianna Fáil in this regard. They want to see that it will stand with them, with the tens and hundreds of thousands of people who have protested, because Irish people do not now support water charges. They will never support water charges and not when Fianna Fáil feels the time is right. They will not support water charges, so why does Teachta Cowen not stand with the people this evening and encourage his colleagues to do likewise?

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