Sir, – I am entertained by the suggestion of two letter-writers (June 29th) that the European Commission is imposing water charges on Ireland and threatening fines, although of course both of those are possible.
The truth here is that the European Commission answered a question from the European Parliament and answered it correctly. The directive in question was approved by the Irish government. The special derogation was also negotiated by the Irish government. The derogation was not renewed by a Fianna Fáil-led government in 2010.
There was no diktat and no bullying and no ignoring of the Irish people (no other representations have been made on the subject). Yet hysterical “Eurosceptics” blame the EU! It’s this sort of misinformed and immature thinking – and reporting – that has the UK in its current predicament.
The people to blame for the water charges issue are Irish public representatives, in this case Fianna Fáil. It must have had a really good laugh fooling so many gullible electors when running on a ticket of abolishing charges – something it always knew would probably be illegal.
Of course, it will blame the EU again when it has to row back on the issue, and those who rely on social media and tabloids for their information will have another paroxysm of faux outrage and patriotism. – Yours, etc,
DANNY RAFFERTY,
Raheny,
Dublin 5.