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ENVIRONMENT MINISTER ALAN Kelly is addressing the Dáil at 3pm to announce the government’s revised plans for water charges.
Some of the main measures have been well-leaked by government TDs and ministers in the past few days, and you can read up on everything we already know about Water Charges 2.0 here.
We’ll be following the Dáil debate as it happens, and keeping you updated on major developments throughout the afternoon.
3.10 pm: Bad start. Points of order from across the opposition as they insist on having the text of the motion before Minister Kelly begins his address.
3.20 pm: CONFIRMED:
For the details of the new plan, in full, click here.
3.40 pm:
Opposition heckling intensifies as Alan Kelly’s speech culminates.
Now it’s the turn of Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, and Independents to have their say…
3.51 pm:
Fianna Fáil Environment spokesperson Barry Cowen condemns Irish Water as a “gold-plated, profit-driven super-quango.”
Says the government treated the Dáil and the Irish public with disdain in shutting down debate over water charges legislation last year.
4.01 pm:
Alan Kelly, the Minister responsible for the government’s new plan, has left the building.
Micheál Martin calls it “unbelievable”, asks for Minister Kelly to be brought back into chamber, and Barry Cowen calls for an adjournment.
Here’s how the chamber looks at the moment (the government is on the right):
4.07 pm: Well, we have avoided a mass opposition walkout, but the Dáil is now adjourned for 45 minutes, so we can retrieve Alan Kelly for the remainder of the debate.
4.55 pm: We’re back! And so is the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, and Alan Kelly. Barry Cowen has resumed his speech.
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