Existing water laws can be used to meet EU rules, committee told

Existing laws can be beefed up to ensure homeowners can be fined and penalised in order to comply with EU environmental laws.

That is the legal advice that has been given to TDs and senators over disagreement on how a process can be agreed on funding water services going forward.

However, they have also been told any agreed water funding system must comply with the EU “polluter pays” principle, advice which may mean Ireland must enforce a charging system.