Murphy calls on opposition parties to clarify their inconsistent positions on water charges

Dara Murphy TD, Minister for European Affairs and Data Protection, has called on opposition parties to clarify inconsistent and contradictory statements they made today on water charges. He also dismissed as ludicrous, comments made about the need to nationalise the Irish banks and multinational industries located in Ireland.

Speaking after appearing on Brian Dowling’s “Saturday” programme on RTÉ Radio One this afternoon, Minister Murphy said: 

“I was joined on today’s panel by TDs from the opposition parties who were talking out of both sides of their mouths on the water issue. The Government listened to the people and this week provided certainty with the announcement of an affordable and simple charging system for water. The Government’s position is clear. Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin now need to explain their respective positions to the electorate. The time for populist, inconsistent and contradictory statements on water has passed. The Irish people need to be clear on where the opposition stand.”

“I was alarmed by the suggestion on the programme by the Socialist Party that banks and multinational companies in Ireland should be nationalised. This Government has worked hard to reduce the huge burden placed on the Irish people by the effective nationalisation of the banks during the crisis by the previous Government. It is remarkable that the Socialist Party and Sinn Féin could even entertain such an idea, which would reverse the progress we’ve made, place a massive burden on taxpayers and the public finances, and bring us back to the dark days of the banking crisis. Sinn Féin need to clarify their position on this issue.”

“Talk of nationalisation of multinationals in Ireland is reckless and ludicrous. It would destroy rather than create jobs. This Government’s policy of ensuring that the right conditions are in place for investment and job creation is the right one. It is delivering. We are now seeing the results in the high figures for job creation and the lowest unemployment rate since 2009.”