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

Ms Burton says 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.

This morning, Ms Burton was asked repeatedly whether Irish Water would "sink" the Fine Gael-Labour coalition.