Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald has said the reversal of water charges is a precondition for the party entering into any government arrangement after the next general election.

Until now the party has only been willing to identify publicly the scrapping of property tax as a “red-line issue” in any coalition negotiations. However, Ms McDonald confirmed yesterday the status of water charges was exactly the same as that for property tax.

It led to Socialist Party candidate in the Dublin South West byelection Paul Murphy contending last night that Sinn Féin had changed its position on the issue.

At the party's parliamentary party "think-in" in Co Louth this month party leader Gerry Adams and finance spokesman Pearse Doherty refused to identify any Sinn Féin policies other than property tax that would have the status of "deal-breakers" in coalition talks. .

However, election literature circulated by its byelection candidate in Dublin South West Cathal King has stated unequivocally: "Sinn Féin will reverse water charges if we are elected to government."

The leaflet distributed in the constituency – which includes the suburbs of Tallaght and Templeogue – also stated: “Sinn Féin is the only party that has given an absolute commitment to reverse water charges if we are elected to government.”

His colleague, Mayor of South Dublin councillor Fintan Warfield, expressed a similar stance in a tweet sent over the weekend in response to a query about Sinn Féin’s position on water taxes: “Completely opposed . . . a red line issue in any programme for government.”

Sentiments

Ms McDonald, when contacted by The Irish Times yesterday confirmed that the sentiments of Mr King and Mr Warfield were consistent with those of the party.

Ms McDonald would not use the term “red-line issue” on the basis it would be presumptuous of Sinn Féin at this juncture to assume it would be in a position to enter government. However, she clarified that its opposition to water taxes was of an equal status to its opposition to property taxes if such a situation were to arise in government-formation talks.

“Our commitment to reverse the [water] charges is steadfast, and clearly that would be a matter that would have to discussed and agreed in any negotiations [to be part of a coalition].”

She said the status was exactly the same for water charges as for property tax. “We have given an equal commitment and the stance on it is exactly the same.”

Mr Murphy, a former MEP for Dublin, highlighted the inconsistency yesterday, and suggested there was difference between what Sinn Féin was saying nationally about water charges and what its candidates were saying on the ground.

Political game

“It seems as if a political game is being played by Sinn Féin. It is saying one thing locally when election is in full swing in terms of it being a red-line issue when nationally the party has refused to say it’s a red-line issue.”

Mr Murphy said the Anti-Austerity Alliance, to which his party belongs, was the only grouping implacably opposed to water charges, and people should still have a question over fully trusting Sinn Féin on the issue.