Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing my time with Deputies Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin and Dessie Ellis.

I listened last week to Deputy Barry Cowen's party leader on local radio in Cork. The only reason he gave for not supporting the motion was that it was a stunt. He could not come up with any other reason for not supporting it. This is amazing because, as my colleague Deputy Eoin Ó Broin pointed out, the very purpose of private Members' time is putting forward private Members' business. The vast majority of the business is in the form of motions and some is in the form of legislation. We voted on those motions for one purpose, and one purpose only, namely, to express the will of this House. None of us is naive enough to believe that by passing this motion, it will be the end of the matter. However, it certainly sent out a very clear message to people outside this Chamber, the tens of thousands who marched two weeks ago in opposition to water charges, that Members are listening to them and can be trusted on this issue.

The reality, however, is that Fianna Fáil cannot be trusted on this issue. If Deputy Barry Cowen disagrees with that and is telling us his position for the commission is now the final position of Fianna Fáil, there is no reason he cannot support the motion before us tonight. This is because it is in line with his party's own stated position. I do not know how he will explain this to people when he decides to vote against it tomorrow. What is the reason for voting against it? Fianna Fáil's party leader having said on local radio in Cork that the motion is a political stunt will not wash with the people. The party has a very easy decision to make: it must either support its own stated position, as articulated to the commission, or not. If not, it cannot blame people for not trusting it on this issue.

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