People who refused to pay water charges won't face any court charges

The water charges debate steams on between Enda Kenny and Michael Martin as the two political leaders look to find some compromise to form a government, but it is being reported this morning that citizens who haven't paid bills for water charges will not be pursued by the law.

A report in the Irish Independent outlines how unpaid Irish water bills below €500 will not be followed up by the government, meaning those who haven't clocked up such an amount will be able to get off without paying anything towards their water bills.

The Civil Debt Procedure Bill which allows the government to take money from people's wages and social welfare payments to go towards unpaid bills only applies to debts between €500 and €4,000. As the family household bill was capped at €260 by he outgoing government, it would mean that a home owner would have to avoid paying the water charges for two years before they are taken to court.