Irish Fianna Fail politicians betray drinking water election promises

This video says about itself:

Irish Water: Protests Against Irish Water Charges

15 October 2014

More than one hundred thousand people marched in Dublin to protest against Irish Water and the charges that are being imposed on the Irish people.

Water meters are being forcibly installed with the help of heavy handed Gardai (police). After 6 years of austerity measures the Irish people have had enough.

Related article here.

By James Tweedie:

Ireland: New TDs under fire for reneging on water pledge

Saturday 12th March 2016

SINN FEIN MEP Lynn Boylan attacked recently elected members of Ireland’s hung parliament yesterday for reneging on their promise to scrap widely hated water charges.

Her criticism came a day after the Dail failed to form a new government or elect a taoiseach to take over from Fine Gael incumbent Enda Kenny.

Mr Kenny’s alliance with the Labour Party lost its majority in the February 26 elections, largely due to public anger at the new charges for the previously free public utility.

But the opposition Fianna Fail party voted with the government on Thursday against a Sinn Fein proposal to abolish the charges.

Ms Boylan pointed out: “The majority of TDs elected to the new Dail stood on an anti-water charges platform.”

“Unfortunately, Fianna Fail, despite its election rhetoric, yesterday sided with Fine Gael to block a Sinn Fein motion for a debate on water charges and Irish water.”

The charges were the outgoing government’s response to a European Commission requirement for river basin management plans, with a submission deadline of March 22.

On Thursday, Mr Kenny failed in his bid to push back the next sitting of the Dail until April 6, after the deadline. The lower house of parliament will now meet on March 22.

“There is no obligation on Ireland to introduce water charges,” Ms Boyle said. “This might be the EU Commission’s preferred method, but it is not the only way.”

“This was one austerity element that was NOT forced upon us and time is running out to end the debacle once and for all.”