Labour Senator John Kelly has said the party repeatedly failed to tackle problems with the State's water network when in power.
Senator Kelly added: "It is simply stunning that Micheal Martin has the audacity to criticise this Government for the manner in which it has established Irish Water. Fianna Fail's position is undermined because the party sat on its hands during 14 years in power on the issue. Their belated concern fools no one.
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"Fianna Fail Ministers, with their hands on the tiller, had ample opportunities over the years to invest in the State's water infrastructure, but they refused to do so. This all happened at a time when the public finances were in a healthy position.
"The result was that people in this country were left lumbered with a system that was chronically under-funded and plagued with water shortages, leaks and boil water notices.
"For example, more than 20,000 people in my constituency of Roscommon South Leitrim cannot drink water from their own taps because Fianna Fail long-fingered the issue in favour of more election-friendly pursuits.
"Now they insist on pontificating about the establishment of Irish Water by a Government which had no choice but to set it up in the most difficult of circumstances.
"I accept there may be teething issues with Irish Water. However, its very establishment is a damn sight more than Fianna Fail ever did to address a water network that is costing €1.2 billion to run every year and is losing 40% of volume through leaks."
(CD/JP)
