Sinn Fein is once again calling for all water charges in Ireland to be abolished.

The party is also asking for a "meaningful independent commission" to be established which will see Irish Water replaced by a new public ownership model.

Sinn Féin Fingal TD Louise O' Reilly has challenged Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to ensure that any proposed commission sees Irish Water abolished and not just tinkered with.

Deputy O' Reilly said: "Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are now talking about setting up an independent commission looking at Irish Water and a charging regime. This is not good enough. They are tinkering with a totally failed enterprise as part of their political play-acting. They have no plans to actually replace it.

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"The majority of TDs in the Dáil want charges scrapped. Sinn Féin’s mandate is to abolish Irish Water. We are also arguing for an independent commission, but the starting point must be the abolition of the household water charge.

"We need to restore public trust in how our water services are run, to independently advise the houses of the Oireachtas on levels of management and funding needed as well as establishing how best to deliver quality, value for money services at the lowest possible cost and the highest levels of efficiency possible."

(CD)