Kenny plays down rift over water bills

Cabinet tensions over water charges spilled over into the Dáil as the opposition accused Enda Kenny of presiding over a chaotic rollout of the unpopular tax.

In heated Dáil exchanges, Mr Kenny hit back at Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin by attacking him for leading a party of “opportunistic hypocrites,” as details of how the levy will be imposed emerged.

Mr Kenny tried to play down a Coalition rift over water charges which came to light after Labour sources claimed the party was being “bulldozed” into accepting a pricing regime.