Fine Gael's Simon Coveney interferes again in the Oireachtas Water Committee

Simon Coveney Fine Gael Housing Minister

Between the Minister for Housing,  Simon Coveney and the EU Commission,  Mr Pádraig Ó’Céidigh, chairman of the Oireachtas Water Committee was a busy man last week and walked a political tightrope, as it were.  Below is a recent letter, sent by Minister Coveney to the him on Thursday evening,  April 6th, 2017.

The letter was a response by the Fine Gael Government rejecting a draft report of a three month long Oireachtas Committee on Funding Domestic Water.  This Committee followed in the heels of an 'Expert Water Commission' set up early last year.

Minister Coveney says in his letter that he is not attempting to "in any way seek to interfere"  but urges the chairman to ensure that the "final draft report is, before adoption, subject to rigorous and fully objective legal scrutiny by a European law expert". 

It is not every day one sees a Minister being interested in objectivity and rigorous scrutiny, however, when one reads the letter in full and takes everythingthat has happened for the past year, his remarks are only a ruse and in facta contradiction in terms. 

This latest interference has prompted members of the Committee to complain to the Chairman.  See Irish Times article 'Simon Coveney accused of issuing threats water committee'

 

Coveney Letter

Source: Coveney Letter

Varadkar & Coveney Putting Personal Contest Ahead of Clear Agreement

Fianna Fáil issued the following statement on April 6th 2017 following Fine Gael's rejection of a Oireachtas Water Committee Draft Report the previous day.  According to the Irish Times the two parties will meet over the weekend.  So it remains to be seen Fianna Fáil succumbs to what he describes as 'manoeuvring in an internal political party contest'.

 Leo Varadkar, left andSimon Coveney, right

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Housing, Planning and Local Government Barry Cowen TD said, “Yet again it has been confirmed that the two contestants for the Fine Gael leadership are willing to endanger their government’s existence in order to prove their macho credentials to Fine Gael members.

Barry Cowen

It appears that their leadership contest is not about the future of Ireland but about who will be more aggressive with other parties. Their continued defence of a discredited policy and insistence that clear agreements can be breached continues to be a major problem.

Fine Gael’s water policy has been a fiasco from the outset. They delivered a loss-making regressive charge and a state agency focused on issuing bills rather than fixing leaks. It continues to spin but the failure of their policy is absolutely clear.

The policy which Fianna Fáil is supporting is legally, environmentally and financially sound – as proven repeatedly in the evidence and independent advice obtained by the Oireachtas Committee.

Fianna Fáil has honoured its confidence and supply agreement in full and without game-playing. We will, however, not accept any attempt by Fine Gael to change its terms to suit the interests of manoeuvring in an internal party contest.”

Prime Time Water Charges the Issue that will not go away

Tonight RTÉ Prime Time discussed the latest political controversy arising from Fine Gael. earlier today, refusing to agree with a draft report from the Oireachtas Water Charges Committee.  The vote on the final report was postponed yet again until next Tuesday, allegedly so that Fine Gael can get legal advise on it.  Fianna Fáil's John Lahart and Fine Gael's Kate O'Connell argued over the 'Confidence and Supply Arrangement' that their respective parties have to facilitate the Fine Gael led Minority Government.

Ms O'Connell was not asked to spell out exactly what problem Fine Gael has with the draft report but rumours have it that they are reeling at the omission of the word 'Charges' in the report? 

It was interesting to see Ms O'Connell attacking Fianna Fáil accusing them of "getting into bed with the hard left and Sinn Féin" and saying that Mr Lahart was talking out of both sides of his mouth.   Then she stated that Fianna Fáil went back on their promise to the electorate that they would abolish Irish Water Ltd. 

One could easily deduce from all this abuse Fine Gael are dishing out that they are trying to goad Fianna Fáil into withdrawing support for the Minority Government.