The TDs who back water refunds, those who don’t ...and those on the fence

AS Fianna Fáil continues to grapple over the issues of Irish Water, the Irish Daily Mail contacted Fianna Fáil and Independent TDs to ask them if they believe that the people who paid their water charges should get a refund. WATER CHARGE REFUNDS: YES Social Democrats TD and coleader of the party, Catherine Murphy ‘In the event of it (Irish Water) being abolished or reconstituted, like a National Roads Authority (NRA), then there would be an equity issue here. So, net of the water conservation grant (worth €100) we think they should get refunds, but we’re not sure if that could all be done in one year.’ Independent TD Finian McGrath ‘I think they should, out of fairness. There were many senior citizens, for instance, that paid because they were afraid. So I think it’s only right that if charges are scrapped or suspended, that they be refunded.’ Independent John Halligan ‘Absolutely they should be refunded. I realised in the first week of the election from listening on the doorsteps that Irish Water would have to be scrapped, and Fianna Fáil copped on to that obviously, while Fine Gael and Labour completely underestimated it. Many people who paid are sorry they paid, but it was because they didn’t want to break the law. The people were loyal to the State and they shouldn’t be treated with disdain, they definitely should be paid back.’ Independent Seán Canney ‘It’s one or the other, you either have them (water charges) or you don’t. So if you’re not going to have them, you must be refunding those that have already paid, of course.’ Independent Maureen O’Sullivan ‘I do, if it is (abolished). I just think we need to look at the figures just to look at how much it is going to cost to abolish it. And there is no doubt that the work that it is doing is needed, because we don’t have a proper system and we have to weigh it up to see what is the most practical solution. If the water charges are abolished, people should get their money back.’ AAA-PBP’s Ruth Coppinger She said she would ‘completely favour’ the charges being refunded ‘because it was a completely unviable tax’. WATER CHARGE REFUNDS: NO

Fianna Fáil TD Willie O’Dea ‘I don’t see any situation in which it would be refunded. I really don’t. It’s unlikely, I’d have to admit that. ‘You never deal with a tax like that. If you’re abolishing a tax or a charge, you do it from the date you actually pass the legislation or the commencement date. ‘The point about it is that it would depend on resources, I don’t think the resources are there for that. I think they’ll be scarce enough. What I would say to people [who have paid] is we opposed this and we didn’t support it – that’s why we’re going to stop it. If we’re in government we’re going to stop this imposition being put on you.’ Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary ‘It’s the law, so unfortunately we can’t offer refunds, but remember it was Fine Gael and Labour that brought in the law, so it’s their fault. We voted against the water charges that Fine Gael and Labour were bringing in, but it did become law and the bills were due, so that has to be respected.’

Independent Clare Daly ‘I think it is a bit of sideshow to be honest. Of course Irish Water should be abolished. If people get their money back well and good. But it’s not the decisive issue. ‘To be honest, the main thing to push is that they are not getting a bill next year or the year after and we are not quite there yet.’ WATER CHARGE REFUNDS: UNDECIDED/UNCLEAR

Independent TD Joan Collins ‘We want to see them being abolished. I don’t know whether people who have paid could be refunded, I don’t think it is possible. It will be abolished as far as I am concerned and people won’t have to pay it again, that’s what we are about.’ Independent Michael Healy-Rae ‘If Irish Water is scrapped, first of all, that changes everything. And obviously people who have paid, a big question mark would be over, “was it right to take the money from them at all?” You are talking about something that would be hypothetical at the moment. So that’s the answer to that, we will have to wait and see what is going to happen.’ Fianna Fáil TD Michael Moynihan ‘They are issues that will have to be resolved with the abolition of Irish Water... Our manifesto clearly stated we would abolish Irish Water, if we get into government. There is a number of very crucial issues that would have to be resolved with the abolition of Irish Water. That is all I’m saying.’