The only future for Irish Water is abolition, according to Sinn Féin.

The party made the statement following the resignation of Mr Joe O'Toole, the Chairman of the Expert Commission on Water Charges.

Senator Máire Devine welcomed the news that Mr O'Toole is stepping down, however she said Fianna Fáil needs to be called into question.

She said: "Joe O'Toole now joins a long list of high profile Irish Water casualties who include Phil Hogan, John Tierney, Alan Kelly to name but a few. Mr O'Toole displayed an arrogance and total misjudgement of the will of the people who have displayed, time and again, their total resistance to paying water charges. His comments were wholly unacceptable for a supposed independent chair of an expert commission.

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"In another example of Fianna Fáil's in-out position in relation to this minority Government, we discovered yesterday that Fianna Fáil were made aware of the appointment of Enda Kenny's economic adviser to the EIB. Were they also aware of Joe O'Toole's appointment as head of the water commission?

"Regardless, once public opinion shifted, Fianna Fáil demanded Joe O'Toole's head. They made noise and Fine Gael danced to their tune. That Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil attest that they are anything but Government partners is comical to say the least."

(CD/LM)