Earlier this afternoon, Fine Gael and Labour voted against each other for the first time in the history of the current government.

Labour senators joined the opposition to approve calls for a referendum to make sure Irish Water cannot be sold. The party backed a vote calling for a referendum on Irish Water privatisation.

The Seanad voted unanimously to approve the plans by Fianna Fáil.

This, coupled with Joan Burton's comments that €200 would be a fair water charge for families in the Dáil yesterday which the Taoiseach declared was a personal statement, has led to many questioning if the future of the Coalition is in jeopardy.

The Tánaiste answered questions about the future of the Government today: