Pearse Doherty has blasted Fianna Fáil for their stance on Water charges.
POLITICS: Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty has said the deal between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil on water, reported in today’s Irish Times, is a betrayal of the Irish people who voted to scrap water charges and Irish water in the recent general election.
Deputy Doherty said this deal is a major u-turn and climbdown from Fianna Fáil and shows they cannot be trusted to keep their election promises.
Speaking from Leinster House today he said, “Before the election Fianna Fáil completely rebranded itself as some sort of progressive force in Irish politics.
Sinn Féin never bought that and we certainly didn’t trust them on the issue of water charges. The deal reported today shows their true colours in our opinion.
“What limited detail is reported this morning in regard to the Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil programme for government negotiations, represents a betrayal of what citizens voted for in the general election in terms of scrapping water charges and abolishing the toxic Irish Water.
“What the Irish people want is the abolition of both domestic household charges and Irish water.
“This deal is a major u-turn and climbdown from Fianna Fáil on water charges and shows they cannot be trusted to keep their election promises.
“They may be sitting on the opposition benches after this deal is sealed but they will be the architects of this programme for government and Sinn Féin will hold them to account for that.
“They cannot present themselves as a progressive force when they are facilitating the implementation of a conservative and regressive programme for government that they helped design.
“The sad reality is that if Fianna Fáil were true to their word water charges could be abolished today. A majority in the Dáil were elected on anti-water charges tickets including Fianna Fáil TDs. However, they have since helped to block a motion from coming before the Dáil which calls for charges to be scrapped.”
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