Mayor of Drogheda resigns from Fine Gael over water issue
The Mayor of Drogheda has announced that he is to resign from Fine Gael in protest at the Government's handling of the water charges controversy.
He has also called on Fergus O'Dowd, who was Junior Minister at the Dept of the Environment when Irish Water was being established, to consider his position.
Kevin Callan says he will stay on as Mayor, but will become an independent member of Louth County Council.
His decision comes just 24 hours after mass protests up and down the country called for the charges to be scrapped.
"People in general have reached boiling point when it comes to water," he said.
"As Mayor of Drogheda, I'm aware of the fact that we had over 8,000 people, nearly a third of our entire town, on the streets protesting this.
"I think it's the weeks of bonuses, allowances - everything that's wrong with the system in this country.
"I am joining the people of my town to say that I've had enough of it, and I'm resigning from the Fine Gael party in protest, and becoming an independent."
Louth TD and Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams welcomed the decision, saying: "I commend the action of the Mayor of Drogheda, Kevin Callan in resigning from Fine Gael.
"He has clearly witnessed the people's anger over water charges and has recognised that the Fine Gael leadership is not listening.
"I would hope that others in Fine Gael and Labour follow Mr Callan's example and stand with the people rather than the Government on this issue."
