Sinn Féin has slammed the Government's attitude to struggling householders with its 'compliant' attitude to the banks.

The party's leader, Gerry Adams TD, asked Taoiseach Enda Kenny if it was fair for families to be threatened with having Water Charges deducted from their income, while the Government refused to ensure banks passed on the benefits of lower interest rates to the same families.

Mr Adams said: "An aversion to equality has been a consistent feature of the Fine Gael/Labour Government. It stands with the elites and against citizens.

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"Contrast their attitude to struggling householders with their attitude to the banks who were so central to the destruction of our economy.

"Today Irish Water begins the process of issuing bills for the Government's Water Tax – a tax widely rejected by citizens who have demonstrated in huge numbers on the streets against Water Charges and against Irish Water.

"The Government has taken no action against the banks who have refused to pass on the benefits of the lower interest rate set by the European Central Bank.

"It has have given them a veto. It has been almost three years since the Economic Management Council even met representatives of the Banks."

(CD/JP)