There appear to be mixed messages between the Government parties on when water charges are to be introduced. The Water Services Bill, a major item of legislation, is still awaited. The Taoiseach might confirm when it will be introduced. Also, my understanding is Bord Gáis's billing system is ready for use by Irish Water but Ministers are referring to different dates. Is it the Government's intention to publish the Bill and levy water charges in 2014 or 2015?

Will the Taoiseach update the House on the protection of maternal life Bill because there are reports that emergency discussions took place last evening involving the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly? There is a Bill which officials in the Department of Health have and discussed with the Ministers of State at that Department, as well as the senior Minister who has denied various newspaper reports on six people interviewing a woman with suicidal ideation.

We are short of time.

I seek clarification as to when the Bill will be published and of the Government's intentions in that regard.

On water charges, the Deputy is aware that the troika is back in town and that there will be discussions between it and the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on Ireland's programme. The Ministers will make a case to it that water charges should not be applied until 1 January 2015 and that they should be applied quarterly and retrospectively in that they would start from October 2014. In other words, they would be applied three months behind-----

Starting from October.

The charge would be levied but paid three months later, from 1 January 2015.

For the October period.

Yes, for the October to December period.

Just after the local elections.

Ministers have to make that case to the troika and have its approval.

The Taoiseach can trust the Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan, to organise things that way.

The Deputy's memorandum was very good. His were due to come in on 1 January.