Government’s handling of Irish Water a ‘shambles’ - FF

Leaders’ Questions has started in the Dáil and Taoiseach Enda Kenny is under fire over recent water charge developments.

Fianna Fáil leader Michael Martin started questions for the Opposition, branding the Government’s handling of the issue so far as a “shambles”.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams crticised the lack of an exact charge for the service.

“This government of yours is totally dysfunctional,” he said. “The game’s up. Once again, you won’t tell us how much you will charge.”

Earlier, Mr Adams said Enda Kenny should tell the European Union to "bugger off" on water charges.

Mr Adams accused Mr Kenny of being “compliant” in the face of elites and said the Taoiseach was ignoring the message he was getting from protestors.

“The Taoiseach should tell the EU to bugger off on this and on many other issues, that water is a human right,” Mr Adams said.

Mr Adams said water obviously had to be paid for but people living in Ireland should decide how that should be done.

He told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme he was entitled to change his mind about paying water charges.

When Sinn Féin launched its pre-budget submission last month, Mr Adams, deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald and other senior party TDs confirmed they would pay.

In recent days however, Mr Adams and Ms McDonald have said they will not pay.

Mr Adams this morning said he could afford the charge as he was on a “decent wage” as a TD but had decided to change his mind “in solidarity” with those who could not pay.

His water charges relate to his holiday home in Donegal.

He insisted Sinn Féin was not advocating that people should not pay.

People felt intimidated, threatened and frightened, he added.

He said the Government could afford to absorb the cost. “There’s enough headroom in the exchequer to absorb this.”

Sinn Féin argues scrapping water charges would cost €300 million but the Government says the cost would be €800 million.