http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5U3oKZ-CdA
A ROW OVER the government’s attempts to push through legislation on water charges has led to Fianna Fáil and other opposition parties and TDs walking out of the Dáil chamber this afternoon.
The government is attempting to push through the Water Services Bill this week, but the guillotining of the debate later today has led to protests from the opposition benches.
A vote was called on the issue during the Order of Business with the government’s majority ensuring it won 70 votes to 45 before Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin accused the government of demonstrating “fundamental disrespect” for the Dáil.
He then led his deputies out of the chamber, with Sinn Féin and TDs from the Technical Group joining him.
Fianna Fáil has confirmed it has withdrawn from Dáil business for the rest of the afternoon in protest at the government’s handling of the bill.
A short time later, the Minister of State, Joe Costello accused the opposition parties of “grandstanding”, saying the protest might have been made on “something more appropriate” than a bill aimed at updating Ireland’s water provision infrastructure.
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