Sinn Féin blamed for delay in water refunds

THE Government cannot say how many householders will get water charge refunds before Christmas – and has blamed Sinn Féin and others for delays in passing the law allowing cheques to be issued.

Almost a million Irish Water customers are due to get refunds of up to €325, but the law to bring that about remains mired in debate.

As the delays continue, there is concern over how fast An Post and the banks can process that many cheques.

The Water Services Bill 2017 was finally passed by the Dáil yesterday, but it must still be debated and voted on in the Seanad before it can be sent to President Michael D Higgins for signature.

Housing and Local Government Minister Eoghan Murphy last night couldn’t provide an estimate for how many would get refunds before Christmas.

Nor could the minister’s spokesman say when it is expected the Bill will ultimately pass.

Speaking ahead of the Dáil vote, Mr Murphy hit out at Opposition TDs, including those from Sinn Féin, accusing them of delaying the law.

Mr Murphy said he didn’t see the abolition of charges as a “victory for the people”. He viewed it as politicians trying to use the issue to score points.

Mr Murphy claimed that delays had been caused by TDs who repeated speeches at various stages of the legislative process and the number of amendments that had been resubmitted after they had been refused.

Fianna Fáil TD Barry Cowen claimed that the former Fine Gael-Labour government had implemented a “botched” water charge regime and he said his party’s deal with Fine Gael to facilitate the minority Government was part of a process of seeking to resolve the “mess”.

He argued that Sinn Féin tabled “silly amendments” including one that sought to change the name of the law to the ‘Water Charges by the Back Door Bill’.

He said an alternative name could be “Water charges ... by the back door for the 4pc of the population who, after every effort ... is made and assistance given to them to ensure compliance and conservation, still want to wantonly waste water”.

Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Broin (inset) said his party wouldn’t apologise for raising “very legitimate concerns”.