Ireland could face a general election after Simon Coveney’s comments

"I'm just not going to do that as a minister. I will not introduce legislation that potentially exposes the country to severe penalties and fines from the European Commission. I won't do that. We have clear advice from the Attorney General's office.

"There has to be some consequence for households wasting large amounts of water".

The statement has been met with firm opposition from Fianna Fáil who have taken a hard stance on the issue in recent times. Speaking on Today with Sean O'Rourke on RTÉ Radio 1, Fianna Fáil's Barry Cowen called Simon Coveney's intervention last night "premature, political and unprecedented." Cowen warned that if Coveney and Fine Gael do not abide by the confidence and supply agreement which states that the government will facilitate the passage of legislation on water charges supported by the Oireachtas, then they will tear up the agreement and possibly bring down the government. The Laois/Offaly TD also said that Fianna Fáil were not opposed to imposing fines on people for wanton abuse of water usage, but when pressed on how much would constitute wanton abuse, he said it  would be up for Fine Gael to decide.