The Taoiseach Enda Kenny says the government is to bring forward legislation to prevent the privatisation of Irish Water.

Mr Kenny has told Sinn Féin in the Dáil he will not support their proposed legislation for a referendum to enshrine Irish Water as a public utility.

Meanwhile the government is to include a number of compliance measures in the announcement on water charges tomorrow, to deal with those who refuse to pay. 

The Cabinet will hold a special meeting to sign off on the plan at 7:30am tomorrow morning.

A government spokesperson has also indicated that charges could be capped even beyond 2018, as part of the affordability measures.

Mr Kenny says the government will introduce legislation to ensure Irish Water is "never privatised."

But he is ruling out any referendum to enshrine Irish Water as a public company in the Constitution.