Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach was asked this question earlier but there has been a development since then. The confidence and supply agreement states that the Government will facilitate the passage of legislation for the implementation of the recommendations in regard to domestic water charges. Deputy Cowen from Fianna Fáil is out on the plinth saying that if the Government does not agree to implement the legislation needed following the recommendation of the committee and of the Dáil, there will be an election. The Taoiseach will still be the leader. I do not know what the people sitting beside him think about that.

Are we into an election situation now because of the refusal of key people in Fine Gael to implement what was a democratic mandate that they were given, whether they like it or not, by the electorate, which is that most of the people in the Dáil were elected on a platform of being against water charges? It looks like a few stubborn heads over there are refusing to implement it. I would not fancy my chances running a general election campaign on water charges if I were Fine Gael with the Taoiseach, Deputy Kenny, still as leader.

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