Sir, – The European Commission has said that it considers the application of water charges as qualifying as Ireland's so-called "established practice" under the water framework directive ("Abolishing water charges could mean daily fine", June 28th).
This clarification means that it is now probable that the European Commission will take action against the Government if it abandons water charges.
The European Commission has learned nothing from Brexit. It issues diktats, impose fines on governments and ignore the harsh reality that it is now politically impossible to implement water charges in Ireland. But nonetheless the European Commission will continue with this fat-headed diktat. The people of England and the UK in general have led the way. We now need Eirexit. – Yours, etc,
JAMES McCUMISKEY,
Belfast.
Sir – Just days after the British people voted for Brexit, the European Commission has told Ireland that we must continue with water charges. This completely ignores the clearly expressed wishes of the Irish public and a majority of our elected representatives. The threat is that Ireland could be fined each day if water charges are scrapped. Our Government should make it clear to the EU that we are quite capable of holding an exit referendum of our own. – Yours, etc,
TIM O’SULLIVAN,
Dublin 5.