The Taoiseach has ruled out a referendum against the privatisation of Irish Water. Enda Kenny told the Dáil: "It is not proposed to hold a referendum in respect of a right to water being enshrined in the Constitution."

He said any party that favoured privatisation could put in its election manifesto “that it stands for that”.

His comments follow calls last weekend for a referendum. Answering questions about referendums the Government proposed to hold, Mr Kenny confirmed the intention to have referendums on marriage equality, reducing the voting age to 16 years of age from 18, and lowering the age at which someone can stand in the presidential election to 21 from 35 years.

In the wake of one of the reports from the constitutional convention, Mr Kenny has also referred to an Oireachtas committee the question of whether a referendum should be held on giving citizens a say in the nomination process for presidential candidates.

He said the Government accepted the convention’s report that the electoral system should not be changed but that an electoral commission should be established.