The Government has suffered an embarrassing rejection of what it says is a key condition of its agreement with the bailout troika, as almost 1m citizens are poised to defy the law and refuse to pay the €100 household charge.

Just over 30% of the 1.6m eligible households have so far paid the €100 household charge, the agency responsible for its collection said today.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan has reiterated this morning that there will be no extension to the deadline for payment of the household charge.