The Taoiseach says he won't comment on calls to delay the introduction of water charges.

The energy regulator has given Irish Water a one-month extension to the registration period - meaning the first bills won't have to be paid until February.

The country's biggest trade union SIPTU says charges should be deferred until the public is convinced about the need for charges in the first place.

Speaking in Brussels this evening, Enda Kenny wouldn't comment on SIPTU's request:

“I’ve made no comment on that at all, other than to say there are some concerns that people have and we will consider those and bring clarity to the situation so that people can have confidence in it in terms of its affordability and what they’re going to get from it. AS I say there’s a lot of misinformation around about Irish Water and what it means.”

In a statement released earlier today SIPTU said:

“The Government must take a step back and rethink its approach on the way it is implementing the water charges regime. It must defer the payment which is due in the Spring of 2015 and develop a way of providing for the new investment that is required over the next number of years to fund the provision of a high quality treated water supply in a way that commands a reasonable degree of acceptance, while retaining it in public control and ownership.”