The outgoing Minister of State Kathleen Lynch says her objections to water charges fell on deaf ears in the Labour Party.
Ms Lynch was one of more than 20 Labour TDs who lost their seats in the general election last month.
The party is down to seven TDs in the new Dáil, narrowly having secured speaking rights.
Kathleen Lynch - who remains a Minister of State with special responsibility for primary care, social care and mental health until the next government is formed - says the Labour Party paid the price at the polls for implementing the water charges.
She says she "pleaded" for water charges not to be introduced "because I knew it would be the straw that broke the camel's back".
The Dáil is due to sit again tomorrow, but a government will still not be formed as Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil continue efforts to secure support from smaller parties and independents.
