Sinn Féin has accused Europe of “playing politics” with water charges while Fianna Fáil has disregarded comments by the European Commission stating that the charges cannot be reversed.

The latest legal row over whether Irish Water charges can be scrapped has not, despite claims to the contrary, sunk any chance of resolving the issue.

The EU has issued a sharp reprimand to Government ministers and others blaming EU rules for the effects of severe flooding around Ireland.

IRELAND is speckled with small lakes and streams, about which little enough is known scientifically.

Measuring how much water is used by households is a basic pre-condition under EU rules, but how much to charge for water is up to the Government, according to the European Commission.

The Environmental Protection Agency has warned Irish Water it faces a "number of challenges" to provide safe and secure drinking water to the public.

In comparison with other EU member states, Ireland has a better than average water quality but faces major challenges to achieve targets set for 2015, 2021, and 2027 as required by the Water Framework Directive.

The European Commission is seeking to levy a once-off fine of €4m against the Government for its failure to ensure that proper environmental assessments are being carried out on Irish farming and fish farming projects.

IRELAND could be hauled before the European Court of Justice for failing to adequately charge farms and businesses for water usage.

IRELAND’S silent suffering through bank bankruptcies, bailouts and severe economic downturn isn’t such a big mystery for farmers.

MEP for Munster Kathy Sinnott has demanded the Government explain why it is not availing of an exemption from water charges in the Water Framework Directive from the EU, and is instead charging schools, hospitals and farms for water use.

Up to two-thirds of Ireland’s underground water is at risk of pollution, it was claimed today.