International News

DUBLIN, (APP/AFP) – A deal between two rival
parties to suspend controversial water charges nudged Ireland closer to the formation of a minority government on Wednesday after more than two months of tortuous negotiations.
Fine Gael, the largest party to emerge from the February 26 election,
had championed the retention of Irish Water, the utility it created as part of austerity measures in 2013.
But as part of a deal that may allow his party to return to power,
party leader Enda Kenny bowed to demands by rival Fianna Fail for a suspension of the charges and the introduction of a commission to examine alternative ways of paying for water.
Kenny had previously said abolishing the organisation would be a
“seriously costly and seriously historic mistake”.
Following the announcement, Fianna Fail leader Michael Martin on
Wednesday called the water charges “very far from being the single most important issue facing our country”.
“However it is important and the handling of it in recent years
represents a dramatic public policy fiasco,” he added.