Today was seen as small a victory for the Irish people after the new minority government agreed to scrap the much hated water charges for nine months.
Although the new agreement has not been welcomed by everyone as the current acting Environment Minister Alan Kelly launched a scathing attack on the new proposal calling it “economic and political sabotage”.
Mr Kelly’s angry comments came when he addressed the Dail during a debate this afternoon, during the highly contested debate the acting Environment Minister accused Fianna Fail of “environmental treason” after their relentless campaign to have the charges abolished, Mr Kelly also warned the proposed deal has echoes of the 1977 decision to abolish rates, which he said was a massive mistake.
Mr Kelly told the Dail: “Today I believe Fianna Fail are guilty of environmental treason and Labour party stands behind the important public service of water provision. “Politics is failing the people of the country again. Utopian populism is winning again. It’s Groundhog day. We will regret it, just as we did in 77.” Mr Kelly rather scathing comments came as he was speaking on behalf of the Labour Party who are reportedly outraged by the new deal as they were full supporters of the Irish Water scheme.
Mr Kelly also claimed the proposed nine month suspension would “make fools” of the 950,000 people who have already paid their water bills. Mr Kelly told the Dail there are approximately 950,000 households who are about to be made “fools” of and the 340,000 people who already paid for water are being given nothing but disregard by Fianna Fail.