The Environment Minister Alan Kelly says Irish Water will not cut off or reduce the supply to those who do not pay the water charge.

Mr Kelly was speaking on a visit to the company's contact centre in Cork.

The government says it is to consider other methods of collection - but clarity on charges may not come until the week after next.

But Mr Kelly says the threat of cutting supply has to be lifted.

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Earlier, the Tánaiste Joan Burton stopped short of saying that Irish Water will bring the end of this government.

Ms Burton said it will be up to the public to decide who is in power.

Both she and the Taoiseach Enda Kenny have played down the impact of the ongoing dispute on water charges and that the Economic Management Council is making progress on a deal.

And the Transport Minister Leo Varadkar told Newstalk Breakfast that the government has been having a bad month.