Fine Gael oppose Fianna Fáil bid to freeze charges for lengthy period

Fine Gael is opposed to attempts by Fianna Fáil to freeze water charges for a lengthy period. That position which looks set to ensure government formation talks roll on into the weekend.

Senior party figures are flatly rejecting efforts by their political rivals to effectively dismantle the billing system and stop payments until a way forward can be agreed.

Acting Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Fine Gael weekly parliamentary party meeting yesterday that he could not give it timeframe on when a deal for a minority government might be struck with Fianna Fáil.