Kenny: Irish people will 'measure up and obey the law'

426,000 people have now registered to pay the household charge.

Although the past 48 hours has seen a significant number of registrations the figure is still far short of the 1.6 million homeowners who are liable to pay the tax, with just over three days left until the deadline expires.

The Taoiseach faced further questions on the fiasco as he wrapped up his trade mission to China today.

Enda Kenny is insisting that the Irish people will "measure up and obey the law".

And he said that there is still plenty of time:

"The government can only function where it gets the cooperation and the support of the people" he said.

"Obviously the question in relation to significant numbers not having paid by the weekend, its also an opportunity for people, where significant numbers will have paid by the weekend"

However, one group who feels there should be an extension to the deadline of the household charge is Active Retirement Ireland.

The group said that it has been inundated with calls in recent days from elderly people who are confused as to how to pay this €100 tax.

CEO of the organisation, Maureen Kavanagh, has criticised the Government for giving out mixed messages and misinformation:

"The problem has been around the information that was given out, particularly over the weekend, where Minister Hogan said that council officials may be calling door to door to collect the charge has led to fears that bogus callers", she said.

"..We have already liased with Gardaí around this issue of bogus callers and unfortunately this is just adding to people's fear".