Updated 12pm

THIS WEEK THEJOURNAL.IE contacted 225 Oireachtas members to see who intends on paying water charges – and who doesn’t.

Of the 170 politicians who responded, 17 told us they would refuse to pay their bill.

The following TDs, and one senator, belong in the ‘no’ camp:

Richard Boyd Barrett (People Before Profit)

Joan Collins (People Before Profit)

Ruth Coppinger (Socialist Party)

Clare Daly (Independent)

Dessie Ellis (Sinn Féin)

Martin Ferris (Sinn Féin)

John Halligan (Independent)

Séamus Healy (Workers and Unemployed Action Group)

Joe Higgins (Socialist Party)

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Sinn Féin)

Catherine Murphy (Independent)

Paul Murphy (Socialist Party)

Thomas Pringle (Independent)

Mick Wallace (Independent)

Senator Marie Louise O’Donnell (Independent)

Senator David Cullinane (Sinn Féin)

Some of them elaborated on their decision. Here’s what they said:

Tommy Broughan wants Irish Water to be abolished and for local authorities to re-take control of water services.

I’ve always been opposed to water charges, I walked out of the Dáil when the Bill went through. The water tax is the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Richard Boyd Barrett





The level of non-cooperation and non-engagement with Irish Water shows that the Government should just give up now.

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Dessie Ellis





I’ve made it clear I won’t be paying them, but I’m leaving it up to others to make their own decision.

Martin Ferris





I can well afford to pay water charges, but in solidarity with those who can’t, I will not be paying them.

John Halligan





I think it’s an unjust charge. Irish Water will eventually be privatised, the way it’s been set up is appalling.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn





I’m not paying, but I nor Sinn Féin are advocating a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ stance as it is an issue of personal choice and reflecting personal circumstances.I will stand with families regardless of their position on payment/non-payment.

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Catherine Murphy





I am not opposed to a conservation approach to water charging; i.e. everyone gets a free allowance sufficient for cooking or hygiene, using the average consumption figures from other countries, and over and above that excess could be charged for. I also don’t believe a big quango is required.

Senator Marie Louise O’Donnell





It’s a tough question to answer. Unless it’s enshrined in the Constitution that it won’t be privatised – then, under the current loose legislation, it’s a ‘No’. Though I do believe water must be paid for.

We asked every TD and Senator if they’re paying their water charges. Here’s what they said…

The following politicians don’t know if they will pay the charges or not:

Michael Colreavy (Sinn Féin)

Seán Fleming (Fianna Fáil)

Fidelma Healy Eames (Reform Alliance)

Finian McGrath (Independent)

Maureen O’Sullivan (Independent)

Róisín Shortall (Independent)

Seán Fleming is one of the deputies on the fence, telling us:





I’ll wait and see … maybe water charges will be dropped before a bill arrives.

Senator Fidelma Healy-Eames is also undecided:





Irish Water needs to be disbanded and the Government needs to start again. It’s a complete mess.The Government needs to make up its mind whether its goal is water conservation or collection of a tax. You can only have conservation when everyone has a meter so that is not working.There is no public confidence in Irish Water. From what I hear and see, I expect there will be a protest of mass civil disobedience against payment and I’m talking from rural Ireland too, not just urban Ireland.

Story continues