Sinn Féin to ask President not to sign water bill into law

Sinn Féin will ask President Michael D Higgins not to sign the water services bill into law if it is passed by the Seanad today, as part of rarely-used head of State powers.

The move was revealed as an independent senator began a “campaign” to force a referendum on any potential future privatisation of Irish Water, claiming Sinn Féin had “hijacked” the call.

The Government’s revised water charges legislation is currently passing through its final stages in the upper house, after a marathon 16- hour debate on Friday.