Kevin Duffy appointed new chairman of the water charges commission

Former chairman of the Labour Court Kevin Duffy has been appointed as the new chairman of the expert water charges commission writes Juno McEnroe.

Minister Simon Coveney (pictured) made the appointment this afternoon, after the resignation earlier this week of Joe O’Toole, who stepped down from the post after calls for him to go.

The Department of Environment has confirmed that Mr Duffy is to replace Mr O’Toole.

The former construction union leader will head up the eight-member commission, which has five months to report on the future of water charges and the funding of Irish Water.

The new chairman comes after Mr O’Toole resigned earlier this week following controversial comments he made to the Irish Examiner about water charges and left–wing politicians.

Mr Coveney will travel to Brussels tomorrow to outline how Ireland intends to comply with EU laws on the environment while still suspending water charges for nine months.