Contradicting comments made by his own Environment Minister Barry Cowen earlier in the week, Micheal Martin has today said that water charges are not a ‘red line’ issue, and will not interfere in coalition talks.
Mr. Cowen had said that Fianna Fáil would require water charges to be scrapped before entering into any coalition government.
But Mr. Martin appears to have now reneged on such commitment, saying instead that ‘communication channels have been opened’ with smaller parties to form a stable government.