A major row has erupted in the Oireachtas committee looking at the future funding of water charges.
The Joint Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services is due to meet tomorrow to try and find an agreement.
Earlier, the committee approved a Sinn Féin amendment on the first page of the draft report to state that domestic water use should be funded through taxation.
It had previously stated that normal domestic water use could be funded through taxation.
The change was supported by Fianna Fáil and the amendment was carried by the committee.
Fine Gael objected to the change saying it was at odds with the rest of the report which stated there should be a levy or a charge or some penalty for the wilful abuse or excessive use of water.
The party said it would not comply with EU obligations as fines could be imposed.
Four pressers on the plinth to explain the split on the #water committee over wording today @rtenews pic.twitter.com/FAvANU46FG
— Martina Fitzgerald (@MartinaFitzg) April 4, 2017
The party’s Chairman Martin Heydon said language was important but his party colleagues, Colm Brophy and Kate O'Connell, said they were not fussed about what it is called as long as those who use excessive amounts made a financial contribution.
Fianna Fáil's Barry Cowen said he did not know what Fine Gael was hung up about as the document still referenced excessive usage and wilful abuse.
He suggested Fine Gael's stance had to do with internal politics.
Mr Cowen said the committee may have to proceed by majority vote although Fine Gael had said there was no agreement if there was no sign off on the document by the committee.
Sinn Féin’s Eoin Ó Broin said his party had an issue with any charge for excessive usage as it was a charge by the back door. However, he said his party would look at the possibility of fines for willful usage.
Labour’s Jan O'Sullivan said the removal of the word usage had indicated that taxpayers should pay for those who use excessive amounts and that was unfair.
She described today's meeting as farcical and said the party may vote against the whole report.
The committee is expected to sign-off on its final report this week.
It has examined the report of the Expert Commission on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services, and will send its final recommendations to the Dáil where a vote to decide the future of water charges will take place.
