Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My teddy bears are virgins, a Chathaoirligh.

Tá mé buíoch as an deis labhairt ar an rún atá os comhair na Dála um thrathnóna. Tugaim mo chuid tacaíochta dó. Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an 34 Teachta eile atá tar éis an rún a shíniú. Unlike - I suppose this will become a mantra here - Fianna Fáil's ever-shifting policy positions, this motion is very straightforward. It calls on the Government to accept the fact that the farce of household water charging is over and to fund investment in water and sanitation infrastructure through progressive taxation. As a result of its latest policy U-turn a fortnight ago, Fianna Fáil is now supposedly in favour of such a position.

An Teachta Cowen should clarify its position once and for all. It is also now supposedly in favour of establishing a statutory investigation into the sale of NAMA's Project Eagle. It is a case of a U-turn a day keeps the voters at bay.

This evening, despite its position, it has somehow concocted a rationale that says, "We're in favour of abolishing water charges but we're also in favour of Enda Kenny and Fine Gael in government because we haven't enough votes ourselves to be in government, so we won't vote to end water charges, especially if the motion is a Sinn Féin motion."

Of course it is not the first time Fianna Fáil has done this in the past six months since concocting an arrangement with Fine Gael. It has voted against its own stated policy and election manifesto positions. It can be called political manoeuvring or double speak but it should not be called new politics. It is vintage Fianna Fáil politics and cute-hoorism. It is all about the Soldiers of Destiny, the party and the lust for power. Water charges were Fianna Fáil's child from the beginning. We all know that, as does Deputy Micheál Martin, which is why he has moved to the Sinn Féin position on this and on other issues.

The fact is that there is a necessity to scrap water charges without delay. That is the only way to end this debacle and the only way that Irish Water will be dealt with. That fact must be accepted.

Tá mé buíoch as an seans caint faoi seo inniu. Molaim an rún agus iarraim ar achan Teachta, go háirithe Teachtaí Fhianna Fáil, tacú leis.

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