Tá dhá cheist agam, ceann faoi reachtaíocht atá forógraithe. Will time be set aside for a debate on the proposals included in it? Will legislation be required and, if so, when will it be brought before the Dáil?

Professor John Higgins was appointed to complete a report on the design and establishment of hospital groups. The Taoiseach will be aware that there were thousands on the streets of Waterford calling on the Government not to downgrade Waterford Regional Hospital. The longer the report remains unpublished, the more rumours there will be and the greater the stress. Has it been discussed by the Cabinet? When will it be published? When will it be debated in the House?

On the second point, the report has not yet been discussed by the Cabinet. Clearly, the issue of hospital groups and the future of local hospitals is of considerable importance to many Deputies. The report will come before the Government shortly and will be debated and then published.

I indicated to Deputy Micheál Martin that the LRC document would be published later this evening and given to everyone. The unions must consider it and, in accordance with their individual traditions, and put it to their members in a ballot. The Government will then reflect and act on the matter. It is now a case of the unions considering and discussing the LRC document, making arrangements to ballot their members and, I hope, approving it.