Micheál Martin predicts water charges will be suspended for more than nine months

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has predicted that water charges will be suspended for more than nine months and will never return in their current form — contradicting his party’s minority government deal with Fine Gael.

The opposition leader made the claim in his first in-depth interview since the new government was formed, and just 24 hours after the first clear cracks in the historic agreement appeared.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio’s Today with Sean O’Rourke, Mr Martin said his party was forced to focus on Irish Water during talks because it was obvious that no government would have lasted more than a few months if the issue was not addressed.