Sinn Féin has hit out at the Environment Minister after he confirmed the issue of water has "gone off" his agenda.

General Election candidate Cllr Maurice Quinlivan described his comments as "utterly detached and arrogant".

Cllr Quinlivan said: "Once again, his remarks have highlighted just how out of touch the Labour Party are with ordinary communities throughout Limerick and the state. The vast major of people see these charges as unjust and as a direct attack on their basic human right to water. Over the last two years, they have resisted the charges and, through marches and protests, they have voiced their opposition continuously and overwhelmingly.

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"I am out knocking on doors in Limerick City every day and I can tell the Minister that the issue of water charges and Irish Water comes up over and over again. He might only spend 3-5% of his time on the issue of water but 90% of the people, who engage with me, definitely see it as a major election issue.

"It is very insulting to ordinary families that Minister Kelly should dismiss the level of public opposition to water charges and Irish Water ahead of the general election. This level of arrogance will only intensify people's anger over the disastrous performance of the Labour Party in government. Alan Kelly and the Labour Party abandoned the very people they claim to represent and his latest comments seem to confirm that he is not too bothered by their reaction.

"I would like to ask Minister Jan O'Sullivan if she agrees with the assertion of her colleague that the issue of water is no longer on the agenda? She should make her position clear today."

(CD/LM)