An attempt to have the Seanad recalled to debate the Eurostat decision on Irish Water has been rejected by the Cathaoirleach of the House, Senator Paddy Burke.
In a letter to Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell, who organised a petition seeking the recall, Mr Burke said it was not warranted.
Mr Craughwell said yesterday he had obtained the signatures of 24 Senators out of 60 in support of a recall to debate Irish Water.
He said a decision by the European Union’s statistics agency that Irish Water had to remain on the State’s books was a matter of importance that needed a full public debate.
Press conference
At a press conference in Leinster House in support of his call, Mr Craughwell was joined by representatives of Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin and Renua, as well as Independent Senator Fidelma Healy Eames.
He said people wanted to hear from Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly and Minister for Finance Michael Noonan, and the Seanad was the best forum for that.
Fianna Fáil Seanad leader Darragh O’Brien, Sinn Féin’s David Cullinane and Paul Bradford of Renua backed the call, as did Ms Healy Eames.
“In an outrageous dismissal of the Irish Water fiasco,” Mr O’Brien said, “Minister Noonan has insisted it will have no impact on future budgets as it will remain a public utility ‘off the books’.”
“Meanwhile,” he added, “Minister Howlin has now conceded that unless Eurostat reverses its decision, Irish Water will be part of the budgetary process and will have to compete with other infrastructure projects for funding.”
In any mature democracy, Mr Bradford said, the extent of the Irish Water crisis would be discussed in parliament. The Eurostat decision on Irish Water had evolved into a major problem for the exchequer finances, he added.
Sinn Féin finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said the publication of detailed decision from Eurostat showed the Government had been providing misinformation on the true nature of the decision.
“The Eurostat letter shows that Minister Noonan and other Government Ministers have been blatantly misinforming about the true nature of the decision,” said Mr Doherty.
