TDs and Senators may be recalled over the Christmas break, to finalise legislation on water charges.

The government's minority in the Seanad could force it to return over Christmas to finish the job.

Unless the new legislation is passed before Christmas, the OLDER system of water charges will still kick in - meaning higher bills arriving in January, instead of lower ones in April.

That means a rush to get it passed through the Dáil and Seanad this week, with both houses due to break for Christmas this weekend.

Meanwhile, the Health Minister Leo Varadkar has challenged senators to decide whether they want to be responsible for the introduction of higher water charges.