Fine Gael-Fianna Fáil rift over water charges may spark election

FF bid to scrap excessive use charge ruled out by Coveney as move would be ‘illegal’.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are on a collision course over scrapping water charges in a fresh row which has moved the country closer to the threat of a snap general election.

Fianna Fáil wants to permanently abolish water bills, including any charge for ‘excessive use’, a move Housing Minister Simon Coveney definitively ruled out last night.