A Sinn Féin motion to immediately abolish water charges has been defeated in the Dáil.
A proposal by the Government to amend the motion was carried by 60 votes to 39.
The Government amendment underpins the agreement between it and Fianna Fáil to suspend water charges and set up an independent commission.
Earlier, a Labour amendment to the Sinn Féin motion proposing to refund water charges in full to people who had paid was defeated by 47 votes to 59.
Labour TD Sean Sherlock said law abiding people should get their money back.
Earlier, a protest against water charges took place outside Leinster House, which was organised by a number of political parties opposed to the charges.
Anti water demonstration hears from @paulmurphyAAA and @RBoydBarrett who say-- the water metering programme must end pic.twitter.com/sSFD9UGKLE
— Conor Hunt (@conorfhunt) May 25, 2016
Addressing the crowd, Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy said the water charge movement should not end and said people have to demand abolition of water charges.
Referring to the suspension of the charges he said the problem for the establishment is that the lesson is clear - if people get up and fight together the establishment can be beaten.
He also said the water metering programme has to be stopped.
People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett described the suspension of charges as a humiliating climb down.
There was a minor scuffle when former environment minister Alan Kelly made his way into Leinster House.
There was some jostling, but no injuries were reported. The incident happened after the protest had concluded, but some demonstrators had remained at the scene.
Minor scuffle (captured by RTÉ cameraman) as @alankellylabour enters Leinster house following #water charge protest pic.twitter.com/bUzamt4mgl
— Conor Hunt (@conorfhunt) May 25, 2016
