This week's instalment of the latest serial drama of bickering between Fine Gael and Labour was effectively a row about how the last kick of austerity should be administered, rather than one about whether to wield the boot at all.

Both parties have agreed to water charges; both knew roughly how much would have to be paid per household; and both knew how much the standing charge was likely to be.

Both knew the likely structure of the assessed charge, or how much people without meters installed will have to pay.

Brunt of criticism
Some in Labour, which has taken the brunt of the criticism this week, would have preferred the announcement to be delayed until after the local and European elections, while the Taoiseach said voters would know well before then.

The estimated figure of €240 per house is now there to be used in the campaign: by candidates by way of explanation and by voters by way of abuse.

After years of austerity, water charges are the last big ticket item of painful adjustment, coming after public sector wage cuts, tax rises, welfare cuts of all kinds and the property tax.

Whatever October’s budget may bring – and it is not yet clear if the Government will stick to its original target of €2 billion in cuts and taxes – there will no more measures that will affect so many people, or be as instantly tangible, as charging for water or taxing your home.

Labour manipulation
Perhaps Labour would have liked time to spell that out, but it feels it has been bounced into the water announcement by Fine Gael.

“Rather than seeing this as the last kick we are giving them, people are just seeing this as another kick,” said a party source.

That may be, but controversies about water and property taxes are likely to flare up again in the medium term.

The average water charge figure of €240 is only a rough guide, with annual bills expected to be nearer €300.

The tariffs announced this week are only expected to remain in place for a number of years before being revisited in order to ensure that Irish Water is adequately funded.

On top of that, property tax valuations will have to be updated in late 2016, months after the expected date of the next general election.

By 2016, the sharp rise in property prices in areas such as Dublin will, at best, have levelled out if there is some sort of activity in the construction sector.

Homeowners may be happy the price of their house has gone up, but they will not be pleased with the corresponding rise in their property tax bills.

While it is unlikely there will be any new, broadbased taxes introduced for at least a few years, there will be frequent reminders of the kicks administered during the economic crisis.