Sinn Féin have announced a motion of no confidence in the Taoiseach in the Dáil for next week.

The motion will be tabled on the evening of Wednesday, December 10, the same day as a series of nationwide protests against the water charges are to take place.

The party's finance spokesman Pearse Doherty says it will be debated next Tuesday and Wednesday and is the result of the Government's refusal not to scrap water charges completely.

Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty said: “Sinn Féin is totally opposed to water charges in any shape or form and feel the introduction of such charges, as announced by Government two weeks ago, is a road to yet more hardship for families across Ireland.

“Enda Kenny is still not listening to the core message being conveyed at the water protests, which is that water charge must be scrapped.

“He is determined to force these charge through against the will of the people. My party will therefore table a motion of no confidence in An Taoiseach which will be debate and voted on next week.

“We know that once these charges are set in motion prices can only go one way, and that is up. Merely capping charges for a short number of years will be of little comfort to people, the length and breadth of the country, who simply cannot afford to pay.

“Sinn Féin will be asking people to make every effort possible to attend next Wednesday's Dáil rally. The Government’s water charges must be resisted, defeated and scrapped immediately.

“Right2Water will be maintaining the family friendly, celebratory atmosphere which had become the hallmark of the demonstrations so far.

“If next Wednesday's rally does not deliver the victory we want then we will continue to campaign right up to and including the next election whenever that happens.”