The Dáil has passed the Water Services Bill by 81 votes to 58 following over forty hours of debate.

The legislation will now move on to the Seanad.

Earlier, Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly agreed to amending part of the Water Services Bill at report stage which is currently being debated in the Dáil.

Minister Kelly announced that he was bringing amendments, "having listened to the lengthy and detailed debate in the house".

He referred to concerns raised over a plebiscite being put to the people regarding the sale of Irish Water in the future.

Those concerns were voiced by Opposition TD's at Committee stage of the Bill last week.

Section two of the Bill says the Government "may" put a plebiscite to the people.

The Independent TD Denis Naughton asked for that word to be changed to "shall".

The Minister announced tonight that he has agreed to that request.

The Dáil resumed the debate on the Water Services Bill earlier this evening.

There are 16 sections in the Bill and the Government has decided to guillotine the bill at 9.30pm.

Government spokespeople say more than 40 hours will have been devoted to the Bill, which is more time than for any other piece of legislation during the Coalition's term of office.

However, the Opposition has accused the Government of closing down the debate and breaking a promise not to guillotine it.

The Bill will move to the Seanad tomorrow, with independent Senator Mary Ann O'Brien saying she might vote against the revised legislation.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Senator O'Brien said the establishment of Irish Water was mishandled.

She described it as "an unmitigated mess" and that it was "now affecting the Irish economy".

Ms O'Brien said she is very concerned about the potential for the future privatisation of Irish Water.

She said she would make her mind up on how she would vote towards the end of the week when she hears from her colleagues and the minister.

Watch live Dáil proceedings from 9.30am

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin asked Taoiseach Enda Kenny about the Irish Water legislation during Leaders' Questions this afternoon.

Mr Martin said that when looking at the figures in terms of the conservation grant and billing, it is a net revenue of €25m per annum after ploughing €539m into meters that will never be read.

He said three devices are being used to subsidise Irish Water to pass the market test.

Mr Martin asked if the Taoiseach would bring in the Comptroller and Auditor General to examine the project.

The Taoiseach said that Fianna Fáil had proposed water charges, saying that Mr Martin had proposed a €400 flat charge.

He said that Barry Cowen TD has proposed paying for Irish Water through the central Exchequer but that would mean increased income taxes.

Mr Kenny said the Government estimates that the conservation grant will cost €130m.

The Taoiseach said the reason for setting up Irish Water was to deal with a legacy that has not been dealt with for 50 years.

Separately, it has emerged that the Committee on Procedure and Privileges has decided to write to Sinn Féin Deputy Leader Mary Lou McDonald and Independent TD Mick Wallace about naming people in the Dáil chamber.

Ms McDonald recently named six former politicians in relation to allegations of tax evasion.

Mr Wallace read the contents of a letter regarding allegations against a garda, whom he named.

Both politicians can make submissions to the committee, which will then decide if they should correct the Dáil record.

The committee also decided to seek legal advice on what sanctions should apply in relation to disruption in the Dáil with a view to changing the rules in the long term.

Meanwhile, Independent Senator Fiach MacConghail has said he has not yet decided how to vote on the Water Services Bill when it comes before the Seanad.

Speaking to RTÉ News he said his main areas of concern are the privatisation of Irish Water as he is against the selling of natural resources, the issue of rain harvesting and whether people would be penalised for using rain water, and data protection.

Mr MacConghail said he will carefully examine the Bill when it comes out of the Dáil and will make his decision during the committee stages in the Seanad.