The motion called for the immediate scrapping of Irish Water as well as an end to water charges.
TDs voting in the Dail this evening
A SINN FÉIN motion calling for the the abolition of Irish Water was amended by the government tonight before being carried in the Dáil – marking the defeat of the original motion.
The original motion, put forward by Sinn Féin and supported by a large number of Independent TDs, called for the immediate scrapping of Irish Water as well as an end to water charges.
The motion also called for a date to be set “for a referendum to enshrine the public ownership of water services in the Constitution of Ireland.”
Opposing the motion, the Fine Gael and Independent minority government put forward its own amendment which allowed for water charges to be suspended while a commission was set up the examine whether they should remain.
The amendment carried by 60 votes for to 39 against – which meant that Sinn Féin’s original motion was altered with government’s amendment.
When the time came to vote on the motion as amended – it passed by 59 votes to 38.
Not wanting to vote with the government, Fianna Fáil abstained – but argued along the same lines, calling for the commission to be set up to investigate the future of water charges before any decisions are made.
Original Article: http://www.thejournal.ie/water-charges-vote-2789041-May2016/