Water deal could see Fianna Fáil support three Fine Gael budgets

Fianna Fáil may be prepared to agree a written government deal and support three Fine Gael budgets in exchange for the suspension of water charges until the next general election.

The possibility of water charges being suspended or not remains the key obstacle to a deal being agreed between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, who yesterday parked talks on the issue.

Fianna Fáil are resisting pressure to agree a deal with Fine Gael and have hardened their position on water charges, insisting bills must be suspended for the entire period of the Dáil. It is understood that Fianna Fáil is to put a proposal to Fine Gael that it will support at least three of their budgets and sign up to a written agreement only if water charges are suspended for the entire period of the Dáil. Such a move would allow breathing space for the two parties, as they settled into the terms of a minority government.