Taoiseach denies being ‘arrogant’ amid debacle

The Taoiseach has rejected accusations that he was "arrogant" in how he handled the establishment of Irish Water, insisting he will act on public concerns with changes to the system which may not now be announced for another two weeks.

As his Coalition prepares for a major climbdown on the unpopular charge, Enda Kenny told the Dáil “this could have been handled better” but he has listened to the hundreds of people who have contacted him on the issue “some of them not in very kind terms”.

He said: “Some people don’t want to pay anything. Some people have an ideological view about this. Other people who are quite willing to want to contribute to the upkeep of the water infrastructure need to know with certainty and clarity what it is they are willing to contribute.”