Sinn Féin has once again called for Irish Water charges to be scrapped.

MEP Lynn Boylanmade the announcement in Rome, Italy, to address a debate on the human right to water organised by the Italian Government's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

She said the Irish government has shown its cards by not allowing a referendum on banning future privatisation of the utility and their reluctance to do so has worrying repercussions for the future of water ownership in Ireland.

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She said: "The very first successful European Citizens Initiative, on the Right2Water managed to attract nearly two million signatures and demanded a recognition of the human right to water and an end to liberalisation of water services demonstrating the clear importance citizens from right across Europe attach to water issues.

"Unfortunately however, the European Commission has chosen to ignore the concerns of the grassroots water movement and has been utterly silent since the report was passed last September.

"It is essential that water and social movements from across Europe continue to put the pressure on the EU to enshrine the human right to water in legislation, keep water and sanitation services out of trade deals and to stop pushing a privatisation agenda.

"In 2011, Italy granted a referendum on water management to its citizens, and of those who voted, a staggering 96% were in favour of keeping Italian water and sanitation services in public hands."

(CD)