Kenny sparks Labour fury over push on water charges

The Taoiseach has sparked “intense anger” among his coalition partners who claim plans for controversial water charges were presented to Labour ministers as a “fait accompli”.

As tensions between both parties deepen, Labour sources said the handling of a cabinet memo on Irish Water meant the party’s concerns with Fine Gael were piling up.

They said the latest row is adding to debacles including the treatment of Garda whistleblowers, controversies surrounding Justice Minister Alan Shatter, and the refusal of former Fine Gael strategist Frank Flannery, to appear before the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).