The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has been slammed over comments he made during Sinn Féin's Bill on Irish Water.

Minister Paschal Donohoe said the suspension of water charges will mean that "tax revenues will have to be re-directed from elsewhere".

The party's spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform, David Cullinane, accused the Minister of blaming ordinary people struggling to get through the week for the subsequent crisis in funding for essential social services.

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Mr Cullinane said: "Is this the type of right-wing logic we will get from Paschal Donohoe during his tenure as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform?

"Will he continue to blame the majority of working people for the crisis in funding brought about by his government's slash and burn approach to health, education, justice and local government – an approach they have undertaken so that the richest people in this State can walk away from paying their fair share?

"We already know that the Irish tax avoidance lobby has the ear of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Labour, and it is clear from the Minister's tirade last night that this is not going to change one iota under his watch."

(CD/MH)