Former minister for the environment Alan Kelly and Fianna Fáil environment spokesman Barry Cowen clashed in a heated row over whether Fianna Fáil would support the imposition of water charges when the expert commission looking at the issue reports.

Mr Kelly taunted Mr Cowen when he said “it will be the biggest climbdown of your political career” if the Fianna Fáil spokesman supported the imposition of water charges.

But Mr Cowen retorted that Mr Kelly was “the king of climbdowns”.

The war of words broke out during the committee stage debate of the Water Services (Amendment) Bill, which allows for the suspension of water charges for nine months while the expert commission considers a sustainable funding model for water services.

‘Predetermined outcome’

The Labour TD believed the result of the commission’s consideration would be a “predetermined outcome” with the imposition of charges.

He described the set-up of the expert commission and a committee to look at funding models as a sham, as did Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy.

Mr Kelly said the timeline for the duration of the Dáil was in Mr Cowen’s hands because the committee’s report could not go through the House without Fianna Fáil’s support.

It was a case of either “hefty fines with a huge ongoing legal debate for years with Europe” or “we’re going to be faced with bringing in reasonable, affordable water charges”.

Mr Kelly wanted to know if Mr Cowen would support the outcome from the committee. “And given that it is in my view a predetermined outcome, Deputy Cowen, it will be the biggest of political climbdown of your political career if you do that.

“And do you know something Deputy Cowen - I look forward to the day when you have to make that decision.”

The Fianna Fáil spokesman said it provided a means for scrutiny, proper analysis and “allows proper informed debate about this issue”.

Hitting out at the former Labour minister, he said: “He, along with the government of the day, rammed through legislation to give effect to the calamity which ensued.”

Mr Cowen accused Mr Kelly of having “the cheek or the audacity to say to me that I might be faced with a climbdown. He is the king of climbdowns.

“There’s nobody could surpass the excellence he has achieved in relation to climbdowns.”