JUNIOR MINISTER AT the Department of the Environment Fergus O’Dowd has challenged Sinn Féin to be a “true Opposition” in the Dáil.

Speaking at a Private Members’ Business debate about the Household Charge this evening, O’Dowd argued that there was “no basis or justification” for the repeal of the recently-enacted legislation which introduced the €100 fee.

Sinn Féin put forward the Household Charge repeal bill for debate this evening. Environment and local government spokesperson Brian Stanley described the charge as “grossly unfair” because the “millionaire pays the same as the pensioner and the Taoiseach pays the same as a lone parent”.

As the only Fine Gael TD in the House, O’Dowd delivered a 30-minute speech to challenge some of the points raised by Sinn Féin and Independent deputies earlier in the evening.

He accused Sinn Féin of acting out of “pure populism” and asked it to “be accountable as a political party and to be a true opposition”.

Don’t encourage people to go into a more difficult place financially…encourage your supporters to pay the charge…that is the law of the land. Obey the law.

“The sad part of it is, people who listen to the No voice, they will end up in greater difficulty – not less,” he added, citing the large fines that could be imposed through the courts for the non-payment of the charge

Opposition members argued tonight that the Household Charge represents a triple-payment for local services. They have called for the €94.5 million already raised to be handed back to homeowners and urged Labour party members to support the action.

Another debate on the repeal bill will take place tomorrow evening at 7.30pm and a vote will be held at 9pm. However, as O’Dowd said tonight, it will almost certainly be voted down by the government majority.

A rally will be held outside Leinster House from 5pm tomorrow ahead of the vote.

More: Bill to repeal household charge to be debated in the Dáil tonight>