The Environment Minister is under fire for pulling out of a debate on the Irish Water saga.
Alan Kelly had been scheduled to attend MacGill Summer School in Co Donegal, but has since confirmed he has withdrawn due to a diary clash.
Minister Kelly was set to take part in the debate with Ervia CEO Michael McNicholas, Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty, and Fianna Fáil's Barry Cowen.
A Right2Water protest was planned to coincide with tonight’s debate - that will now take place on Friday when Taoiseach Enda Kenny speaks in Glenties.
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan says the Environment Minister should be debating the issue, and says his predecessors have attended under more difficult circumstances:
The Seanad last night passed the controversial Civil Debt Procedures Bill, allowing some creditors, most notably Irish Water, to take payments directly from people’s pay or social welfare payments.
Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning about the controversial legislation.
Less than half of all Irish Water bills have been paid thus far, with just a 46% payment rate having paid at the last count.
