Updated: 17.00

The talks on a new government continue, as does the debate on Irish Water and water charges.

It has now been confirmed that water charges will be suspended, at least temporarily.

It is expected an independent commission will also be set up to examine the issue.

Speaking on Newstalk Lunchtime, the acting Health Minister Leo Varadkar confirmed the charges will be suspended - but not abolished.

If the government decide to repay water charges that have already been paid, they will need to find €140m.

What should a confused consumer do? Sinead Ryan is a consumer columnist with the Herald and Independent newspapers.

She told Newstalk Lunchtime customers are entitled to their money back if they so wish using a direct debit SEPA refund form.

"Because it's a direct debit it comes under the SEPA rules - which are the European banking rules".

"(These rules) allow you to claim a refund for any reason, on any direct debit that's gone out of your account in the previous eight weeks".

"It's no quibble, no questions asked - and your bank must process the refund".

Fianna Fáil says meanwhile the comments by Mr Varadkar are not helpful to government formation talks - but they are not going to throw their toys out of the pram over it.

In interviews the acting health minister suggested Fianna Fáil's position on water charges was "ridiculous" and "bizarre".

He has since suggested that his reference to the suspension of water charges was "not in the public interest" and should have been to the abolition of the charges.

Fianna Fáil's Michael McGrath has suggested Mr Varadkar's comments are more to do with the succession race underway within Fine Gael.

And he says it has done nothing to build trust between the parties.