Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have been slammed for refusing to support a bill to amend the Constitution to ensure that water services remain in public ownership.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Water, Eoin Ó Broin TD,said: "This Bill provides for the holding of a referendum to enshrine ownership of water in the constitution in order to prevent current and future governments from privatising water services.

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"The government has attempted to delay committee stage of this Bill since it passed second stage. Today they were facilitated in getting another delay with the support of Fianna Fáil.

"Fianna Fáil who have publicly stated they support a referendum on the issue yet today they proposed a postponement on the vote.

"If Minister Murphy or his supporters in Fianna Fáil believe the current Bill is inadequate why didn’t they amend it?

"They have had fifteen months to do so. It is not credible for them to say that they want a referendum on public ownership yet refuse to support or come up with alternatives to the Bill in front of committee."

(CD/MH)