The Government's revised water charges plan has passed a vote in the Dáil tonight.

A motion - which outlined the capped charges and other compliance measures - passed by 78 votes to 52.

The Government plans to introduce a number of pieces of legislation on water charges before Christmas.

Meanwhile, a minister has admitted that any government who wants to sell Irish Water could do so without having to hold a public vote.

The Government is promising to introduce new laws so that a public plebiscite would be needed before any sale could go ahead.

One current minister has admitted that a vote could be avoided - by simply deleting the new law.

However, Simon Coveney says it would be "political suicide" for any government to get rid of that rule: