Irish Water is under pressure to reveal how many people have not paid the water charge.

Socialist TD Paul Murphy criticised the utility in the Dáil yesterday and said it was 'simply not credible' that the government has not discussed the issue with Irish Water.

He says he has submitted a Freedom of Information request to find out how many bills remain unpaid after being met with a 'wall of silence'.

The deputy says some 1.4 million people have now passed their pay-by date.

But Irish Water would not confirm how many people had actually paid their bill because this 'risked disrupting ordinary business'.

Mr Murphy says both the government and Irish Water are trying to hide the figures.

He told Newstalk Breakfast he has been blocked at every turn.