President signs water bill into law

The Government’s revised water charges scheme has been signed into law by the President, meaning bills will arrive in homes by April.

President Michael D Higgins yesterday said he had considered in detail submissions about the controversial legislation, which included calls to put parts of it to a referendum.

But, in what is viewed as a blow to anti-water charge campaigners, the President signed the Water Services Bill 2014 into law. It will come into effect next week.