Sinn Féin is accusing the Government and Fianna Fail of trying to stitch up the Oireachtas committee on water charges.

It is after the government named an independent senator as the chair of the 20-member committee – before the committee gets to elect its own.

Senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh was appointed to the Seanad by Enda Kenny, on the suggestion of the Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin.

Sinn Fein’s Gerry Adams says the whole work of the committee might already be pre-agreed by the two parties:”This appointment was a result of deliberations between the Government and Fianna Fáil.

“So what about the Dáil, it is all reduced to supply and confidence arrangement which was all about getting Fianna Fáil off the hook on this issue and getting you