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Updated 6.15pm
FIANNA FÁÍ HAVE had “more positions than the Kama Sutra” on water charges, according to Sinn Féin’s Louise O’Reilly.
Speaking in the Dáil this afternoon during a debate on Sinn Féin’s motion to scrap water charges, the deputy criticised Fianna Fáil’s policy change on the issue.
The motion has again shone a light on Fianna Fáil’s policy on the issue.
The private members motion to scrap charges comes before the Dáil today.
With the support of Fianna Fáil, the government is set to vote down the motion.
At his party’s think-in last week, Micheál Martin said Sinn Féin was “play-acting” on the issue by tabling such a motion.
“No motion can scrap water charges. Only a Money Bill can scrap water charges,” he said.
I think Sinn Féin are play-acting in relation to their particular motion. Motions on their own cannot get rid of charges – only legislation can.
The move comes a couple of weeks after Martin denied Fianna Fáil had done a U-turn on the issue.
Martin said his party had signed up to the confidence and supply agreement with Fine Gael when the government was formed.
It commits to putting in place an expert commission to examine the water charges issue.
The commission’s recommendation will then be debated by an Oireachtas committee, before the Dáil will ultimately decide if water charges will make a return or be scrapped for good.
Martin said that due to the current makeup of the Dáil, he could not envisage legislation being approved that would re-introduce charges.
Counter motion
A counter motion to Sinn Féin’s motion has been agreed between Fianna Fáil and government.
While the two big parties will be teaming up today, government sources have been quick to suggest Fianna Fáil is not on the right path in terms of its newfound, popular stance on scrapping water charges.
One source told TheJournal.ie that the party’s plans should be held to the same level of scrutiny as Fine Gael’s have been – a subtle accusation that it is making a popularity play, rather than solid policies.
Fianna Fáil’s position on refunding thousands of people who have already paid the charge was called “unrealistic” by the same source.
Refunding
Last week, Fianna Fáil’s Barry Cowen estimated that giving householders who paid their water charges a tax credit would cost €50 million.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Cowen said his party had made a submission to the expert commission on water charges.
In the case where the commission recommends that water charges are to be scrapped and people are to be refunded, Cowen suggests it could be done with a tax rebate.
“This may be the solution or it may not be the only solution,” said Cowen. However, he said it is up to the commission to recommend how government should deal with the situation in all circumstances.
Sinn Féin’s Eoin Ó Broin accused Fianna Fáil of “flip-flopping” on water charges.
He described the party’s latest u-turn on water charges as “laughable”.
In the space of less than two weeks, Fianna Fáil has made several dizzying U-turns on the issue of water charges. Last week, Fianna Fáil supported the abolition of water charges. However, once Sinn Féin put a motion to the Dáil calling for the abolition of the charges, Fianna Fáil backtracked…
Ó Broin said it is time for the party to clarify its stance on water charges “once and for all and put their money where their mouth is and vote in support of the Sinn Féin motion”.
Cowen said Fianna Fáil discussed the counter motion with Fine Gael ministers.
“We remain committed to the process we signed up to,” he said.
He reiterated his party’s point that today’s Sinn Féin motion had “no legal standing”.
“It’s showboating… a stunt… the stage is there, let them at it,” he concluded.
It is hypocritical in the extreme that the US would speak of Security Council/UN resolutions being broken when it’s closet ally in the Middle East, breaks them or outright ignores them on a daily basis.
Also, lest the world forget, the US contributed to North Korea becoming a nuclear state when it turned a blind eye to Pakistani nuclear scientists assisting the North Koreans with nuclear knowledge and equipment claiming officially no such transfer was occurring when in reality it knew what was occurring but did not want to jeopardise relations with Pakistan.
Seoirse, are you sure your not b Lowe because you sound exactly like him. Go ahead and defend North Korea. You make a stupid argument!
They broke international shipping laws and got caught. Get over it.
”Go ahead and defend North Korea.”
He is not necessarily defending N Korea – just stating facts . If facts are too much for u – !!
Jim, saoirse, is stating this as fact. How does he know what went on?
B Lowe talking through his …. again. If is ant-British or anti-US Lowe will be there.
I think b Lowe has a new identity
Correction Pauric, even if its an unrelated topic, if an anti-UK or anti-US slant can somehow be put on it, no matter how tenuous, BLowe will be there…
”, if an anti-UK or anti-US slant can somehow be put on it, no matter how tenuous, BLowe will be there…”
the problem is that with the way the US /UK and many countries in the West behave – it is easy to knock their many illegal actions . Not too many countries have a President who openly boasts of his Murder List .
The west – and US in particular seem to be going out of their way to create enemies – maybe they do that on purpose -to keep the Arms trade going and the money.
Jim, really? Would you like to comment on the illegal activities of North Korea. I believe it has its own arms trade. Also money laundering.
Check it all out and get back to us.
How about the arms trading done by Sweden, France, Austria, Russia amongst others.
But for you and your ilk it’s always the same ole anti- US RANT’
@Jim
Yes, but this article is about an illegal ams shipment from Cuba to North Korea, and the Panamanian response after uncovering it!
Its a bit like the people who twist almost every article on TJ to make a comment about our bankers and politicians!
Its wrong for Cuba to export arms – to N Korea – but ok for US ,UK and France to export to wherever they wish eg Saudi Arabia , Syria ,Iran Israel etc – .
BBC this morning reported that UK govt had issued 3,000 licenses [ value £ 12 Billion ] for arms export to several countries eg China , Iran, Saudi Arabia , Israel- – but that all legal and ok -
——— total hypocrisy once again – but will make good headlines on Fox and keep US population in more fear – a difficult feat .
The difference is that the US ,UK France etc are not hiding their sales in shiploads of Sugar. They are following international trade rules.
”They are following international trade rules.”
— which they write themselves !!
…typical, 2 dodgy dictatorships got caught dealing in spare parts for nuclear weapons but people can’t resist the opportunity to ‘America bash’
Cuba is one cheeky little k^^t
What is a k^^t?
Same as a C^^T
Knight. Cuba is a cheeky little knight.
Sure those were just props for parades
Obvious dry run
The North Koreans seized a small US navy ship years ago, they refused to give it back and now take what few tourists they get on tours of it, rubbing the US noses in the fact they kept the vessel. This cargo ship should be kept also, not necessarily because of the US ship being kept but to show NK that any ship found to be smuggling prohibited weapons “regardless of which country owns the vessel” or components will be seized. lets see how they will get contracts for shipping illegal weapons then. its the right thing to do, this dictatorship is starving its own people while buying illegal weapons to threaten the rest of the world. something needs to be done to stop it, no more words, action is needed.
Equipment was not listed on the manifest and was hidden under tons of sugar and sure tis old anyway me arse …… Cuba should not send to that madcap country god only knows what they will do with it . Seize the ship and sell it to pay for the upgrading work in Panama and warn Cuba and North Korea that in future if they try this the ship will be seized and they will lose the cargo . Do it legitimate like everyone else . As regards the crew 10 years in bars minimum , they knew what they were carting by their carry on and 20 for the captain . This will send the right message .
Wow! We are in the ha’penny place…
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