The Oireachtas Water committee has decided to scrap charges, approve refunds and to reject mandatory metering of new builds.

The committee will meet tomorrow to formally approve its draft report, which will then be debated in the Dáil.

In a statement, Fine Gael said the party believes what was voted through the committee this evening “falls well short of our obligations under the Water Framework Directive and puts Ireland on a collision course with the European Commission”.

****

Talks at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) between Bus Éireann management and unions have concluded for the night.

Efforts to end the dispute over cost-cutting at the company will resume at 9.30am.

Progress on the discussions is said to be slow. 

****

President Donald Trump's reorganisation of his National Security Council has seen former executive chairman of Breitbart Stephen Bannon lose his role as chief strategist.

The shake-up, reported by several US media outlets, has also seen the downgrading of the role of President Trump's Homeland Security Adviser, Tom Bossert.

****

The Department of Finance has revealed that income tax takings for March fell short of the target set in Budget 2017.

Over €1.29 billion was brought in last month, some €57 million below the target.

Looking at the first three months of the year, the €4.41bn take missed the department's target by €180m.

****

When it comes to air travel, the middle seat nestled into the average passenger jet’s three-chair formation is so maligned that it’s completely removed from the window or aisle debate.

But if an American aviation design firm has its way, getting stuck in the middle could soon be much better.

Molon Labe Seating, a Colorado-based aircraft interiors design firm, has come up with a new formation that offsets the middle seat from its neighbouring pair.

“The arms, things, and elbows of all passengers are no longer adjacent,” explained CEO Hank Scott in a statement. “Visually it is a small offset, but ergonomically it makes a huge difference in passenger comfort.”