Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said that he is not making fools of the people who have already paid their water charges, but said that water must be paid for.
He was speaking to reporters in New York where he is holding several business meetings with existing and potential investors in Ireland.
Mr Kenny said that there "has got to be a payment process" for the provision of water because "water is not free".
Earlier he said that the special Oireachtas committee needed to assess the expert commission's finding that those who had paid their water charges should not be treated "less fairly" than those who had not.
Mr Kenny was speaking in Silicon Valley, where he was on a visit to Facebook after meeting Apple CEO Tim Cook.
'I don't want to dictate a policy position to the committee. I want it to do its work now...' pic.twitter.com/Y6TcUiWJR4
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) December 2, 2016
He said he did not want to give a "definitive statement" on the matter because it was agreed during the formation of Government that there would be a special commission to look at "the whole question of water rates and the water supply issue".
Asked about the seemingly contradictory positions being taken by two of his ministers - Simon Coveney and Michael Noonan - the Taoiseach said that everyone had an opinion on the matter.
He said he had a very clear view on it but that the committee should be allowed to make its reflections and give its recommendation before a Dáil vote in March 2017.
He said that "part of their reflection has to be its comment that those who paid their charges should not be treated any less fairly than those who hadn't. I think it is right and proper that the committee be allowed to do its job".
Any decision around refunds depended upon whether the committee "comes forward with a water charging regime", he added.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works Seán Canney has said people who have paid their water bills should be given their money back if the decision is taken to end water charges.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Canney, who is a member of the Independent Alliance, said the issue of those in group water schemes and whether they will get money back also needs to be looked at.
Everyone needs to be treated fairly during the discussions around water charges, he added.
He said he agrees with the principle that water should be metered to allow for a general allowance and that people pay for water that is wasted.
Meanwhile, the chair of the committee set up to consider water services has said he is coming to the role with a "blank page" and that he intends to be impartial and efficient in assisting the committee to come to their conclusions.
Independent Senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh has also said he will not dwell on controversy over his appointment but will get on with his work.
The selection Mr Ó Céidigh was criticised by some Opposition parties, as he was nominated by An Taoiseach after being proposed by Fianna Fáil.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Sean O'Rourke, Mr Ó Céidigh said he would not second guess the process that led to his selection but would get on with the job in hand.
He added that the manner in which he was selected has not been an issue for any of the committee members he has met so far.
"Probably one of the benefits, if it is a benefit, that I have is I'm coming to this with a blank sheet of paper. I don't have any history in this area. So I'm extremely focused on results and solution driven.
"And I would be hoping that the committee will have the flexibility and openness in coming into this to be solution driven as well. And so far, with all of the members I have met, they have that focus."
He said it is intention to meet all members of the committee on a one-to-one basis to understand everyone's position and to allow them input into the process.
The committee will hold its first meeting in just over a week.
He said it is his aim that the committee prepares an objective report, but added that that would be a huge challenge.
Mr Ó Céidigh said it was his intention to have a robust discussion around the matter of whether or not people who have already paid their water bills will be refunded.
Minister for Education Richard Bruton today repeated that those who paid the water charges and who did their civic duty could not be treated unfairly compared to those who did not.
He said how that might be achieved would be examined by the Oireachtas committee.
