Update 10.45am: Environment Minister Denis Naughten has said people need to pay for wasting water.

“We need investment in our water system and we need to stop the waste of water,” he said.

“`My view is that every single person in the country should be given an allowance and if they go over that allowance, they should pay for it.

“That’s the only way we’re going to encourage conservation and that’s crucially important if we’re going to be able to invest in our water network across the country.”

Earlier:

Minister Simon Coveney has said water charges are unlikely to return in the same model as before the current hiatus.

However, he said that water still needs to be paid for.

Fianna Fáil are calling for water charges to be paid for through general taxation.

Former Environment Minister Alan Kelly (Labour) said it would be illegal to scrap the charges, and The European Commission has said there is no way for Ireland to legally abolish its system of water charges..

However, Simon Coveney conceded the way that water charges are paid for is likely to change.

“It’s very unlikely we’d introduce water charges on the same model as before. There’s a need for a change in approach,” he said.

“(However,) I think a lot people in Ireland understand the logic behind people making a contribution linked to the amount of water that they use.”