Fiery exchanges between Audrey Carville and Minister on Morning Ireland

Audrey Carville (L) and Minister Paudie Coffey (R)

Brian O'Reilly

THERE were fiery exchanges this morning on RTE between Morning Ireland presenter Audrey Carville and Junior Minister at the Department of the Environment Paudie Coffey over Irish Water.

The Fine Gael TD was on the show to defend the beleaguered company after news that it had failed a crucial Eurostat test, meaning the entity remains on the State’s balance sheet.

While the interview started out cordial, it quickly turned confrontational after the Minister insisted more people had paid the water charge since Irish Water revealed figures earlier this month showing just 43pc had so far paid.

When Carville pressed him on what the payment level had increased to, the Minister was unable to reveal a figure.

“I don’t have the figure this morning, but when Irish Water gives the next report, you will see that more people will have paid at that stage”, Minister Coffey insisted.

“The opposition will play politics with it, but they won’t tell you how they will pay for it”, he added.

However the broadcaster questioned how he thought this was possible, given the low payment level so far.

“So people have learned now that Irish Water is heavily subsided by the government, that their charges are too low, that there’s no need for this grant according to Eurostat.

“The people who haven’t paid are told there’s no penalties, there’s no sanctions, you’ll still get your water, and you’re telling us that you believe more people will pay? Sufficiently more people will pay to allow Irish Water to pass this test?” she said.

“This is a national utility which is fundamentally required. 43pc have already paid their bills, more will pay their bills. There is no alternative to this.”

The Minister insisted that the government had a duty to press ahead with the charges.

“Not to do so will be far more costly in terms of health and jobs and the economy and EU fines. This is required, and there isn’t an alternative at this time.

Carville then asked would he continue to defend the position on the doorsteps ahead of the next General Election.

“So you’re going to go into the election, you’re going to talk to people at their doorsteps ion the streets and tell them they still have to pay water charges, and they will still get their water grant.”

Mr Coffey defended Fine Gael’s position, and insisted it hadn’t changed since the last election.

“We spelled out quite clearly why this was needed, that hasn’t changed. What we’ve done in government is ensured this is affordable and sustainable.

“If funding is needed for Irish Water, the money has to come from somewhere.”

Carville then asked for one example of how the company could be considered a success.

“One third haven’t registered, 57pc haven’t paid, thousands have been on the streets. No grant in place yet, no sign of that happening. Disasters, fiascos over PPS numbers, bonuses, consultants, metering. They’ve now failed the Eurostat test. What part of the policy of Irish Water has been a success?”

The Minister pointed out that thousands of people had boil water notices removed and were able to drink tap water for the first time in many years.

He also said the utility would provide funding to tackle the capacity issue which Dublin would face in the next number of years.