Last week, I asked the Taoiseach on the Order of Business when we could expect the protection of maternal life Bill emanating from the work of the expert group which worked on the A, B and C cases. He indicated that the legislation would be introduced in the House this week. I understand he said earlier that it is now under active consideration.

The Taoiseach might indicate whether a Government Minister spoke to The Sunday Times on the Bill and gave the information on the Spanish inquisition-type approach to a suicidal woman requesting a termination. How did the detail of the legislation get to The Sunday Times? That kind of leaking is making a complex and sensitive situation worse and is not helpful to the entire process. For the past 48 hours, people have been talking about nothing else but the information contained in The Sunday Times. The Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, did not deny it as such. If one reads his statement carefully, it is a nuanced explanation of what would not happen as opposed to what is in the legislation. Are the heads of the Bill ready to be published? I think the Taoiseach indicated last week that it would be forwarded to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children and that it would be published this week. Will it be published this week or next week? Will the Taoiseach update the House on when it can expect it?

I said last week that it was intended that the heads of the Bill would be completed by Government and that they would then be published and sent to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for its deliberation and analysis. The Government had a discussion on this matter today but it was not concluded, so the heads of the Bill have not yet been approved by Government. The legislation cannot be published until the heads have been approved when they will go to the Joint Oireachtas on Health and Children. The Bill will then be prepared and finalised. The Cabinet committee will deal with the heads and give its views.

Last week I did not say the legislation would be published but that it was the intention to have the heads of the Bill approved by Government. The Government had a discussion on it today but the heads were not finalised, so the matter has not been sent to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children.

On a point of order, I can ask about promised legislation.

That is right.

In regard to what was provided to The Sunday Times, which came from a top source, does that constitute legislation promised or what are we to make of it?

I have no idea at all about how speculation gets into some of the newspapers and, therefore, I do not comment on it.

The Taoiseach has no idea at all.

None.