The head of the body representing county and city councillors wants the board of Irish Water to step down.
Padraig McNally, Chairman of the Association of Local Government, says that bonuses should have been consigned to history, and have no place in Irish Water.
Speaking to Today FM, Mr McNally said the public has no confidence in the board of Irish Water:
“The board, as we now know it, has lost all confidence and respect from the public and I think without that they cannot hope to achieve the very, very onerous task they have been given in terms of providing clean water,” McNally said.
“But I think the problem really is that the cost of that water is beyond most people’s affordability,” he added.
Mr Varadkar also defended the use of PPS numbers by Irish Water.
Earlier today, Health Minister Leo Varadkar said the utility had not yet won the communications campaign on the need for water charges.
Meanwhile, the government faces another battle in the long running saga as protests against water charges and Irish Water are planned across the country this weekend.
Earlier today Communications Minister Alex White said the government "bit off too much too quickly" with their plans for Irish Water.
