Soon to be outgoing Labour Party leader Joan Burton has revealed that she thinks all those who paid water charges should be refunded.
The former Tánaiste also believes the decision to suspend the much hated water charges for 9 months was a mistake because the charges were capped at a “very affordable” level.
Ms Burton made her comments whilst speaking to Brendan O’Connor on RTÉ Radio 1, Ms Burton said: “People who paid the water charges…they’re going to have to be credited or refunded in some way.”
Ms Burton was also highly critical former Environment Minister Phil Hogan and his role in the setting up of the state utility Irish Water. The Labour leader explained: “I think some of the decisions that were made at the beginning when Phil Hogan was minister…. I was very critical of them when I was a member of the Government. In particular I was concerned about people on low incomes.
“I was concerned that the charges could be at a much higher level than a family with say three of four children and particularly teenagers with long showers and playing GAA… that those bills would mount and mount.”
