The government's been attacked for its new plans to have unpaid bills deducted from someone's income.
Opposition parties say the plans will turn private landlords and other agencies into "pickpockets" and debt collectors on the state's behalf.
Fianna Fáil says the scheme is "indecent", while Sinn Féin says the scheme is "Thatcherite".
But Tánaiste Joan Burton says it's a long overdue step to make sure people can't be jailed for being unable to pay some bills - while also ensuring that people who are boycotting Irish Water, but who could afford to pay the bills, can't get away with non-compliance.
However the initiative will require new legislation, which may cause some difficulties for backbenchers as the next election draws ever closer.
Our political correspondent Gavan Reilly filed this report for Today FM's National Lunchtime News:
