Taoiseach defends metering policy as bill passes Seanad

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has defended Irish Water’s metering programme despite officials from Ervia questioning the need to spend €540m on rolling out meters to the country’s 1.5m homes.

Mr Kenny’s robust defence of the utility company (formerly Bord Gáis Eireann) came as the Oireachtas passed all stages of the revised Water Services Bill with a vote in the Seanad.

The bill now goes to President Michael D Higgins to sign into law in a timeline designed to allow for charges to kick in from January 1.