Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae has said that the issue of Irish Water has not gone away.

He was speaking on Radio Kerry after the European Commission declared Ireland is not exempt from the obligation under EU law to charge for water.

Experts believe the confirmation is likely to severely limit the Government’s discretion to scrap the charges.

However, Mr Healy-Rae believes that a great debt is owed to those who protested against water charges.

“Without them most Irish homes would now be facing water bills of between €400 and €600 per year,” he said.

The Kerry TD went on to say that the current minority Government is very different to anything that has previously existed in Ireland, and believes it could fall over a very simple issue.

He said the “arrogance” of the last government is gone because Fine Gael now needs the support of both Fianna Fáil and certain Independents.