Phil Hogan: Set-up of Irish Water not a mess

The former minister who set up Irish Water has declared that the company overseeing water charges is not a mess and he only did what was required during the bailout.

EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan also moved to distance himself from the controversies with Irish Water by stressing that his successor, Environment Minister Alan Kelly, was now in charge of water.

Mr Hogan’s comments come despite previous admissions by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and others that there were mistakes made setting up the utility company. Furthermore, only half of households have paid their water charge bills.