Tempers boil over between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil at water committee

Two hours of heated debate and wrangling behind closed doors between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil over water bills has led to calls for a report on water to be delayed and the need for legal advice.

Members of the Oireachtas committee on water charges were unable yesterday to agree on whether to recommend whether there should or should not be charges for “excess use”.

Committee chairman Pádraig Ó Céidigh has been tasked with the help of Oireachtas staff in drawing up a draft report on the future of charges for next Monday — despite the disagreement. Members have until this Friday to make written submissions for the report before debating it in private next Tuesday.