Fianna Fáils credibility will be under scrutiny later today, when the party will vote against Sinn Fein’s motion to scrap the much hated water charges.
It is understood Michael Martin and his colleagues’ will come in for strong criticism from fellow TDs and the public as they will perform an u-turn on it’s election manifesto and vote to keep the charges which are currently suspended for nine months.
The backing of the retention of the charges will be seen by many as a betrayal of the party’s election promise to eliminate the charges at all cost. The move to vote down the bill comes after party leader said last week he is still in favour of getting rid of the charges but not completely abolishing them, claiming they could be still of use but only if the public water system was fit for purpose.
Meanwhile a Government source has heavily criticised Fianna Fáil’s decision to “drop” the levies, saying: “It was time for the party to be realistic.” The source added: “The party’s stance on charges needed to be tested with the same vigour as the Government’s.”