The Government has proposed a committee of 20 TDs and Senators to examine the expert commission report on the future of water charges.

The newly established committee will have three months to debate the report once they receive it – it is expected at the end of this month.

Housing Minister Simon Coveney has sent a proposal to the business committee of the Dáil suggesting five government TDs, four from Fianna Fáil, two from Sinn Féin and one each from the other groupings, along with four senators.

However the establishment of the committee has still to be agreed as Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are at odds over who should chair the grouping.