Water charges set to be dropped (at least temporarily) as new government edges closer

It looks like an end is finally in sight.

Over 60 days after the General Election it looks as if a government is on the verge of being formed following the latest in a series of discussions on Tuesday evening. According to the Irish Times, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are on the cusp of agreeing a deal on the highly contentious issue of water charges which would pave the way for a Fine-Gael led minority government. Sources told the Irish Times that the suspension of water charges for a period of time – potentially nine months (although it could be extended) – is on the cards, with Fine Gael prepared to back down on the issue in order to come to some sort of an agreement with Fianna Fáil so that a government can finally be formed. On the other side of the divide, while Micheál Martin has said that he would be prepared to go through with another General Election over the water charges issue, it is thought that Fianna Fáil would also be prepared to compromise at this stage. The period in which water charges would be temporarily suspended would allow time for an in-depth examination of the future of Irish Water and potential alternatives to the system that’s currently in place. Statements on the water charges will be heard in the Dáil on Wednesday but no vote will take place, while Enda Kenny is believed to have told the outgoing Fine Gael/Labour government that a meeting held on Tuesday was their last, a further sign that an end just might be in sight.