Enda Kenny should not appoint Independent Alliance TD John Halligan as a Junior Minister if he does not pay his water charges, according to Labour’s Alan Kelly.

The former Environment Minister says it would be unacceptable to appoint Halligan if he continues to break the law.

Deputy Halligan has insisted he will never pay the charge.

Mr Kelly says the Taoiseach “must seek a guarantee from John Halligan that he will comply with the law by paying for his water”.

“In the absence of such a guarantee, it would be completely unacceptable for the Taoiseach to appoint Deputy Halligan as a Minister of State”, Mr Kelly adds.

The former environment minister says any such appointment “of somebody who has clearly flouted the law for cynical political gain” would be a “slap in the face to the hundreds of thousands of households who have paid for their water”.

He has also suggested Fine Gael could change their party tag line to “We are the party of law and order, except in cases where we need their votes to stay in power”.

Mr Kelly said: “It is incumbent on Taoiseach Enda Kenny to ensure that everybody who is privileged enough to be in a position to serve as a Minister in his Government fully respects the law. That includes John Halligan.”