Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn
SINN Féin Justice Spokesperson Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has spoken out against the government plans to use the courts as a tool to prop up their own creditor, Irish Water.
Speaking on the Civil Debt Bill, Deputy Mac Lochlainn also criticised the comments made by Deputy Catherine Byrne, as “utterly insulting”.
Deputy Mac Lochlainn said: “Through their contributions last Friday and again today, Government TD’s tried their hardest to steer the debate away from the real reason for this Bill.
“This a desperate attempt to follow on from the undemocratic process with which the Government rammed through the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill last week, all in the hope that outstanding issues relating to the water charge disaster will be tied up before the summer recess and will not need to be debated in the autumn before a possible election.
“People can see right through this. The fight against water charges is far from over.
"The Government will not sweep this under the carpet because the people, and those of us in here who stand up for them, will not let you.”
In reaction to Deputy Byrne’s comments, Deputy Mac Lochlainn had the following to say:
“I want to address some of the bizarre comments made by Deputy Catherine Byrne on Friday.
"I’m sure that the Deputy must have seen some of the media coverage over the weekend and realised the stupidity of her comments and just how far removed she actually is from the vast majority of citizens in this State.
“It really must be difficult for her stretching her budget in such a way. After all, you could hardly fill a shopping basket on a basic salary of €87,000 a year.
"Deputy Byrne stated that people have a civic responsibility to pay debts, including debts relating to water charges.
“Can I ask her and her colleagues how an increase for former Taoisigh and Ministers in their pensions contributes to their civic responsibility? Or, how a ministerial pay increase contributes?
“But I’m sure Deputy Byrne will be delighted that she too, can now afford a little luxury by way of a bottle of wine at the weekend with a salary increase on the cards for TD’s as well.
"It is utterly insulting to suggest that the low paid and those on welfare, whom this Bill targets, haven’t paid their way.”