EU: Ireland cannot abolish water charges
The European Commission has stated there is no way for Ireland to legally abolish its system of water charges.
Authorities in Brussels have said it is now clearly Ireland's "established practice" to impose domestic water charges.
In a reply to a written question from MEP Marian Harkin, it said Ireland made a clear commitment to implement the charges under a plan submitted by former environment minister John Gormley in 2010.
It says Ireland's derogation against water charges was lost at that point, and there is now no way under European directives that a previous practice can be restored.
The Minister for European Affairs Dara Murphy has said it is welcome news: “I think the process we have ahead of us now to try and get consensus in this country, to have a measured debate, is going to be welcome.
“I think it is up to us in politics to convince people, that there is merit in having a fair, balanced, limited scheme for charging for water,
“That achieves the ambition and that is reduces waste of water and guarantees our water supply for parts of the country going into the future.”
