Fianna Fáil has called on the chairman of the Water Commission to reflect on his position after an interview in which he said he was in favour of water charges and of the polluter pays principle.
Joe O'Toole dismissed earlier calls for his resignation saying he intends to referee an honest and open debate about the best way forward on the issue of water charges.
This evening Fianna Fáíl TD Barry Cowen said Mr O'Toole's comments have "seriously undermined his position as chair.
"This new commission’s job is to independently and impartially examine the different options available for funding our water and wastewater systems into the future, before presenting these options to Dáil Éireann which will then decide.
"By making clear his view before the process of examination even begins and pre-empting the outcome, he has raised serious question marks about his suitability for this role," Mr Cowen said.
Anti Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy accused Mr O'Toole of being biased in favour of water charges.
Mr O'Toole should "immediately resign", Mr Murphy said because the media interview showed him to be a "cheerleader for water charges".
Mr O'Toole said he paid his water charges and in that way supports them, but he wants to approach the work of the commission with an honest and open mind about what is best for the common good, and he would ask others to have the same approach.
He acknowledged it was a divisive and polarising issue and he did not have the answers to what was best.
But he insisted that at the end of five months of guiding a national debate on the issues, through information, through research and looking at all the facts and all the options, then he will have some answers he will put to the Irish people.
While he has a view on water charges, he said his view on the issue could well change, and he looks forward to hearing a number of different arguments that will modify or change his viewpoint, and he would appeal to all sides in the debate to do the same.
