The tone of a Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting this evening has been described as one of exasperation and frustration, with members calling for the issue of water charges to be solved and the charges capped.
Only one TD, Ray Butler, raised comments by Tánaiste and Labour Party leader Joan Burton on her expectations on the level of charges, and he spoke in favour of her opinion.
Earlier, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said Ms Burton was speaking in a personal capacity yesterday when she said a family of four would pay water charges of less than €200.
Speaking during Leaders' Questions, Mr Kenny said he shared the Tánaiste's view that the water charges must be clear and affordable.
Concerns were also raised at tonight's meeting about members learning about developments through the media and ministers not going out to make the case of the party.
Mr Kenny was asked about the charges, but said he would not give details as it was a public meeting.
A Labour Party meeting this evening was described as serious and focused.
Water dominated the agenda, but concerns were also raised about the party.
The Taoiseach this afternoon told the Dáil that the Government had made it perfectly clear that a number of changes will be made and a decision will be made within the next two weeks.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said Ms Burton was not speaking in a personal capacity and she was the deputy head of Government.
Mr Martin had asked Mr Kenny if the figure of €200 was correct.
He said there had been about nine different climb downs on the issue, while the meters have been ticking for the last five weeks.
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams told the Dáil that "the only way forward is to scrap water charges".
He said the Taoiseach said the Government has not made any decision on what it will charge people.
Independent TD Mick Wallace said there are huge problems with Irish Water in his own constituency of Wexford.
Mr Wallace said the Government should disband and call an election because of the water charges issue.
Ms Burton said today that she believes that she and the Taoiseach are on the same page in relation to level of water charges for families.
Elsewhere, the Economic Management Council is due to meet tomorrow morning to discuss water charges.
Minister for Health Leo Varadkar said the water charge protests had been a "wake up call" for the Government and it has listened to what people are saying.
The Government is working on measures to address public concern that will tackle affordability issues, privacy matters and quality of service, he said.
Speaking in Dublin, Mr Varadkar said the protests "did put it up to us to put together a package of measures that will assuage people".
"We are listening to what people are saying," he said.
"That doesn't mean that water charges are going to be abolished.
"I think deep down that most of us think they're the right thing to do."
Later, speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Mr Varadkar said he would be in favour of setting a maximum fee for water charges for a number of years.
Labour senators vote against Government
Meanwhile, the Seanad has voted in favour of a Fianna Fáil "motion re a referendum on Irish Water" by 37 votes to 16.
Labour senators voted against the Government en bloc on the motion to allow for a referendum on the ownership of Irish Water.
Labour senator John Whelan told RTÉ the vote was aspirational and not binding.
However, he said it reflected a view across the Labour Party of the importance of water remaining in public ownership.
He said one people who are protesting against water charges are saying they do not want to pay for something that will contribute to "fat cat" bonuses and they do not want to pay charges if the company will be privatised at a later stage.
Labour party Senator, Lorraine Higgins said that the party whip had informed the leadership of she and her colleague's intention to vote with the opposition on the issue of a referendum to keep Irish Water in public ownership.
She told RTÉ's Six One programme that the decision "to vote en bloc" was made following a discussion and after the water protests last weekend.
Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly addressed the Seanad about Irish Water this afternoon.
Mr Kelly acknowledged that people are worried about paying bills in the region of €500 to €700.
However, he told senators that no one will be paying charges of that scale and the charges will be modest.
Mr Kelly said the scale of establishing the utility company was completely underestimated.
He said that the timelines had led to uncertainty, confusion and huge public frustration.
It was time for the Government to listen and ensure that it has learned from mistakes, he said.
He said he believed the issue of water ownership had been "closed off" but said that the Government would consider extra assurances if needed.
Issues regarding pay structure, the board and bonuses would all be addressed when the new board sits, he added.
Adams will not pay water charges
Mr Adams earlier said he will not be paying water charges on his holiday home in Co Donegal, saying the reason for his u-turn is because of the nationwide protests at the weekend.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Adams said he was at one of the anti-water charges walks on Saturday and it changed his position, and he now stands in solidarity with the people.
He said while Sinn Féin is not advocating that people should not pay their water charges, his focus and his party's focus is on those who cannot afford to pay.
Mr Adams called on the Taoiseach to listen to what the people are saying, and added that everyone has a responsibility.
He said: "150,000 people who marched on Saturday are representative of tens or scores of others who are stuck at home who don’t go out and march, who are not able to go out and march, and who are actually intimidated and threatened and frightened by the fact they are going to get these bills.
"They don’t know, particularly elderly people living on their own, should they flush the toilet, take a bath and so on. That is why I put it to the Taoiseach yesterday that he should listen to what the people say."
He said the Government can scrap water charges by absorbing €300 million of domestic water charges.
Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty has also said that the party is not advocating the non-payment of water charges, but that it is encouraging people to take to the streets in protest.
Mr Doherty said that he will not be paying water charges but that neither he nor the party are encouraging others to follow suit.
Minister for Finance Michael Noonan earlier told the Dáil that "all options are being considered" when asked if the Revenue Commissioners may be requested to collect money for Irish Water.
During Ministers' Questions this morning, Fianna Fáil finance spokesperson Michael McGrath asked the minister to "clarify if the Revenue Commissioners will be involved in collecting money for Irish Water".
He pointed out that this had not been the practice in the past for Revenue to collect money for commercial semi-State companies.
