The expert group's report was presented to the Cabinet today and we were led to believe until very recently that only the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Health had seen it. Did the Taoiseach's Department authorise the cynical leaking of the report last week?

Please, Deputy, not on the Order of Business.

It should have been fully published two weeks ago to inform and focus the debate that has been raging in this country in that time. With regard to the timescale for introduction of the legislation, I listened to what the Taoiseach said about the Joint Committee on Health and Children and the expeditious nature of its hearings. What is the subsequent timeline for the introduction of legislation? It was suggested today by a distinguished commentator that legislation would not be finalised before the second half of next year. Is that also suggested by the Government or can the Taoiseach give us a definitive timescale?

I have little regard for the person or persons who gave elements of the A, B and C report to the media.

Ask the Tánaiste.

It certainly was not leaked by the Tánaiste, the Minister for Health or my Department.

It was the Germans.

On whoever suggested it would be the second half of next year, that is just not true. I want to see a calm, rational and sensitive discussion on the matters involved. Clearly, certain issues need to be addressed quickly.

There are also other concerns we need to address and everybody in the House has a part to play in that. I would like to see this issue dealt with as quickly as is practicable, rather than be forced by pressure from either end of the spectrum here to deal with it. It is a matter on which we must provide certainty, reassurance and clarity for clinicians working in hospitals so there is legal certainty. We must also ensure the concerns expressed around the threat to the life of a mother by suicide is addressed in a realistic fashion. I listened carefully to the words spoken by the perinatal professor yesterday, who said these cases are real, but small in number. However, this is not a box ticking exercise. I am sure the majority of Deputies here, who represent our people, do not want a situation where we have abortion on demand or where it becomes a substitute for contraception.