Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has said that Sinn Féin are committed to ensuring that water charges are gone for good and that they took action that would have made sure that excessive use charges were not used as a pretext for their introduction.

To that end, Sinn Féin brought forward the Water Services (Repeal of Water Charges) Bill 2025 which would have removed the provision for excessive use charges from the Water Services Act 2017.

Speaking after the Government voted against the Sinn Féin legislation on Wednesday night, Teachta Crowe said:

“The anti-water charges movement was one of the largest opposition movements this State witnessed in modern times. Citizens from different backgrounds and of different ages came together, said ‘No’ to this unjust tax and took to the streets in their hundreds and thousands.

“Even the 2016 Fianna Fáil manifesto committed to abolishing Irish Water and ending water charges. The Government of the day was forced to concede defeat on that occasion and has been biding its time to get water charges in through the back door.

“Just like on neutrality, Fianna Fáil has become converts to Fine Gael policy when it comes to water charges. We are still losing one third of our treated water straight into the ground because the water infrastructure has not being brought up to scratch.

“More than ten years on, Irish Water is still wasting more water than any person ever could. To even discuss excessive use charges when Irish Water states on its website that 37% is lost through leakage is bonkers.

“The State is seeking to place a burden on householders once again when the State and Irish Water have failed. If the Government were serious about water conservation, it would fund Irish Water properly to accelerate its own leakage reduction programme.

“Sinn Féin wants leaking water pipes repaired, direct investment in infrastructure and the roll-out of clean water across the State. Householders also want greater clarity regarding who is liable and who is responsible when it comes to ongoing sewage problems near their homes. The council says it is Irish Water and Irish Water says it is the other way round.

“If the Government has no intention of introducing excessive use charges, why not support the Sinn Féin Bill and remove the provision from the Water Services Act? Sinn Féin has been clear on the issue. Excessive use charges constitute a pretext for water charges.”