TÁNAISTE ÉAMON Gilmore again insisted that proposals for a flat-rate household charge and water metering had yet to come before the Cabinet.

He said Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan had set out proposals he was considering.

“The proposals have yet to be brought to Government and the Government has yet to make a decision on the matter,” Mr Gilmore added.

When it did, if legislation was required, it would be prepared and brought before the House.

He was replying to Mary Lou McDonald (SF), who compared the Government’s antics on the matter to the television comedy Fawlty Towers.

She asked Mr Gilmore when the legislation, giving effect to the proposal, would be available.

“I could ask how the Tánaiste expects people to pay these charges when record numbers are struggling with personal debt.”

Joe Higgins (Socialist Party) said Mr Gilmore had not cleared up the confusion, from a legislative point of view, about the Government’s intention on what were new stealth taxes.

Three, he said, had been proposed: water, property and the new household utility charge.

Mr Higgins challenged Mr Gilmore to “explain the Labour Party’s shabby betrayal as he cynically abandons another election promise, having said he would not introduce water charges”.

Denying that there was confusion, the Tánaiste said the question of legislation arose only when the Government had made a decision.

“The Government has not made a decision on any of these matters,” he added.

A decision would be made when Mr Hogan had concluded his consideration and made a recommendation.