The European Commission has been quoted as saying “Ireland does not enjoy an exemption from the obligation under EU law for a system of water charges.” This is likely to be on the top of the agenda when the government returns from their summer break but it remains to be seen what, if any action can be taken . The European Commission has declared  “Ireland does not enjoy an exemption from the obligation under EU law for a system of water charges.” The confirmation is likely to severely limit the Government’s ability to scrap the charge had then planned on doing so. The EU can instigate procedure which would result in daily fines for breach of EU law and have been quoted as saying the flexibility on water charges that Ireland has previously enjoyed, no longer apply and a payment system must be instigated. The European Commission said Ireland  “made a clear commitment to set up water charges” and there  is no provision “whereby it can revert to any previous practice”. Although Fianna Fáil claim to have legal advice stating they can legally scrap the charge it is not the case with Fine Gael who stand by their statement that water charges are an inevitability and Taoiseach Enda Kenny said that despite all the protests people will eventually end up paying for domestic water.