It is proposed to take No. 9, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of Ireland’s participation in an EDA Category B project on counter improvised explosive device manual neutralisation techniques (back from committee); No. 10, motion re proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of the report by the Minister for Defence regarding service by the Defence Forces with the United Nations in 2013 (back from committee); and No. 3, Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage.

It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that Nos. 9 and 10 shall be decided without debate; and Private Members’ business, which shall be No. 45, Wind Turbine Regulation Bill 2014 - Second Stage, shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, 9 April, 2014.

Tomorrow's business after Oral Questions shall be No. 20, Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Bill 2013 - Order for Report, Report and Final Stages; and No. 3 - Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014 - Second Stage (resumed).

There are two proposals to put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 9 and 10 agreed to? Agreed. Is the proposal for dealing with Private Members' business agreed to? Agreed.

Last February, the Taoiseach informed the House that the average water charge would be known before the local and European elections in May. This was a modification of what he said earlier, when he made it clear to the House that individual householders would know their water bills before the local elections. He subsequently modified that to "the average". He told the Dáil: "[T]he Government will, before the local elections, produce, publish and debate the financial and business model dealing with the structure and running of Irish Water."

He stated that it would provide the regulator with the policy framework it needs to proceed with setting the pricing structure, and that involved four key items: the free allowance, the level of public subvention, the first fixed policy, and low-income household supports. That was in February. Despite repeated questions, the Taoiseach has not yet given a firm answer as to when we can expect the production and publication of that model. The only degree of precision we can get from the Taoiseach is that it will be in the next few weeks. For many weeks, we have heard "the next few weeks" emanating from the Taoiseach. One would be forgiven for suspecting that the Government is playing politics with this and that, essentially, it wants to hide or prevent the proper cost of water charges emerging before the local elections. That, in essence, seems to be unfolding.

Despite what the Taoiseach earlier stated, the Regulator is now saying it will be June before he will get it and August before he will be able to do the prices. Many out there are asking how much the water charges will be, and they cannot get an answer. Can the Minister indicate when the Government will be prepared to publish and facilitate the debate on the financial and business model dealing with the structure and running of Irish Water so that people will get some sense of what lies ahead in terms of the level of water charges they might face in the last quarter of this year?

On 26 May.

This is not a matter on which legislation is promised.

The programme for Government.

That notwithstanding, I am sure the work is continuing. The ambition continues to be to produce a worked-out model on that time structure, but I will get back to the Deputy with additional detail if it can be obtained.

After the elections.

August.

The Taoiseach said it would be in two weeks.

Tá dhá ceist agam-----

Bertie's back.

-----one faoi reachtaíocht atá fógraithe. On upcoming legislation, the Government has accepted the need to appoint a Garda authority and I want to ask when the Government intends to bring forward its amendments to the Garda Síochána Act 2005. This is a proposition for which we have long argued, especially given our experience in the North and the positive role of the police authority there.

I was trying to figure it out in my own head. The policy authority in the North appoints the chief constable. Is it the Government's plan that the Garda authority here appoint the Commissioner, or does the Government intend to do that in the meantime? This is a particularly important issue as the Government comes to deal with this. When can we expect the Government's amendments and when would the Minister expect the process to be completed and the amended Bill to be passed?

I want to raise the Walsh and Murphy reports. In July last, the Taoiseach told us that the Walsh report on symphysiotomy would be published soon. The Minister, at that point, had it two months earlier, yet almost a year later it is still not published. In November last, Judge Murphy was asked to examine the issue of symphysiotomy to bring closure to the many women who have suffered from that barbaric practice. That report was to be completed in eight weeks, and I understand that the Minister now has it. When will the Government publish these two reports? Equally importantly, I suppose, when will the Government publish its proposals to end this nightmare for the women victims of symphysiotomy?

I am glad to tell the Deputy that the Cabinet today confirmed the announcement by the Taoiseach that there would be a Cabinet sub-committee dealing with the preparation of the Garda authority Bill. That committee has been established today. It is hoped that substantial progress will be made by the end of this year but, obviously, its work will have to depend on the progress made. The Taoiseach will report to the House on a regular basis the progress that is being made in the production of that legislation.

Who is on that committee?

The committee membership comprises the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Attorney General, the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

On the second issue, that report, as Deputy Adams correctly states, is with the Minister, who is studying it. I understand he intends to bring the report to the Government shortly.

The health reform Bill promises new structures for the health service. Fine Gael is planning to hand the public health service into the control of private for-profit insurance companies. Only last night, we learned that the Fine Gael supporter and financier, honorary doctor and billionaire O'Brien has now taken over a major private hospital, the Beacon. Will there be anything public about the health service by the time Fine Gael and the Labour Party have finished with it? Does the Government intend to give the whole service over to vulture capitalists, as it is doing with just about everything else?

Would Deputy Higgins prefer to see it closed?

Does Deputy Higgins want it closed down?

What plans has the Government for real public health reform?

None whatsoever.

As Deputy Higgins will probably be aware, the Minister has just published a White Paper that is designed to bring an end to the two-tier system which has been a feature of the health service here for a long time and under which access to health services is based not on health need but on one's ability to pay. The Minister is determined to reform that, and it is clearly the direction in which the Minister is seeking to reform the health service. We have always recognised that such reform is a lengthy process, and widespread consultation will now be undertaken with a view to implementing that reform over the period to 2019. Health legislation will be introduced as part of the implementation of that reform but the Deputy will have ample opportunity to make a submission on the development of that reform in the health service.

Today is International Romani Day. Will the Minister make an expression of solidarity with the Roma community in Ireland and will he commit to having the Oireachtas host an event to mark Traveller Pride Week at the end of May?

I do not know if that is appropriate to the Order of Business.

It is. It is on the Order of Business in May.

Does the Minister have any comment?

I recognise the unique contribution that the Roma community makes and I fully recognise that it should be celebrated. I am not in a position to indicate whether an event will be hosted, but that could be raised in the normal way.

On the forthcoming broadcasting Bill, which I understand is imminent, have the heads of Bill come before Cabinet? There is much happening in the broadcasting area, such as the broadcasting charge replacing the television licence, new players in the market such as UTV and last week's controversy over GAA sports rights. The Bill was due to be published before Easter. Can the Minister indicate whether the Bill is on track?

I note there is a Bill. As Deputy O'Mahony said, it is on the list. It has 70 heads. At this point, it has not yet come to Cabinet.

Promised legislation includes a Central Bank consolidation Bill. Is it envisaged that this might be brought before the House earlier than anticipated in view of the important and broad scale of the legislation proposed to be consolidated? Might it be advisable to bring it before the House at an earlier stage? If so, can that be done?

Similarly, the credit guarantee (amendment) Bill is promised legislation. Credit being a sensitive issue, is it intended to have that legislation brought before the House? Has any work been done on the heads and when can we expect it?

On the first, the Central Bank Bill is a consolidation Bill. Its expected publication date is 2015. Given the nature of a consolidation Bill, it would not be amenable to being brought rapidly before the House, because it must be complete.

On the second issue, the credit guarantee Bill, my Department will be bringing proposals to Government to amend the terms of the existing Credit Guarantee Act 2012, and work is considerably advanced on that. As committed to under the original legislation, we have undertaken a review. Based on that review, we will be bringing proposals for reform to Government.

The beleaguered Minister for Justice and Equality is considering introducing amendments to the legislation governing licensed firearms.

It would make more sense, if the Minister for Justice and Equality wanted to do anything about crime, to go after those with unlicensed firearms. That would be common sense and be more practical. Will the Minister confirm that the Minister for Justice and Equality is bringing proposals before the Cabinet and elaborate on this important matter?

I am not in a position to elaborate on it. I presume it is to update the legislation on legally held firearms. It is important to ensure legally held firearms are held by those who treat them responsibly. That is a factor in the Minister's thinking, but I will have to get back to the Deputy with a specific timescale.

I suggest the Minister for Justice and Equality go after those with unlicensed firearms.

To be fair to the Minister, in the past few years there has been a reduction in crime involving the use of firearms. Considerable progress is being made by him and the Garda Síochána in dealing with such offences.

The Constitutional Convention concluded its work at the end of March and I am sure Members will join me in complimenting it on its work. In the light of the number of recommendations made by it to the Government, when is it proposed that the House will debate the work of the convention? When is it proposed that the Government will reply to its findings?

I share the view of the Deputy that the Constitutional Convention has been a remarkable success. It was a success for the politicians and non-politicians who had participated in it and it was a very good formula. The fourth report will be brought before the House shortly.

Wonderful choreography by the Departments.

The Deputy had Bertie Ahern back today. He must be thrilled.

The Deputy should calm down.

There is a new recognition of all things Irish in Britain this week, except Irish cattle. Cattle born in Ireland but finished in Northern Ireland or Britain have no home. They are nomads and not recognised under law in Britain. We can export cattle to Benghazi but not to Birmingham. This is undermining the Common Market and the livelihoods of Irish beef farmers. In the context of Statutory Instrument 484 of 2013 in respect of the Common Market, the regulation will becomes law from 13 June. May we have a debate on it prior to its enactment and will the Minister, given his responsibility for protecting the Common Market, ensure we will be able to export cattle from this jurisdiction north of the Border in order that they can be slaughtered and enter the food chain? This is undermining the livelihoods of farmers and communities throughout the country.

I am not in a position to comment on SI 484 of 2013 and will have to get back to the Deputy on it. I am not sure it has the far-reaching powers the Deputy hopes it has, but I will get back to him on it.

When is it proposed to introduce an amendment to the Medical Practitioners Act? In that context, will the Minister comment on the status of the contract the HSE has offered to doctors to provide free health care for children under six years of age? I note that the Minister of State at the Department of Health said this morning that it was an opening offer. Is that the position?

Both Bills are scheduled for publication this session. I am not in a position to comment on the status of the negotiations on the contract.

When can we expect the housing Bill to be published? Among other things, it will introduce provisions to deal with the increasing numbers on housing waiting lists, particularly in urban areas. It will also introduce measures to deal with local authority tenants who are keen to acquire the property in which they are resident. In many cases, if they were in a position to purchase the properties, they would pay less than the rent they are paying to local authorities. Given that capital values have fallen, there is an opportunity for local authority tenants to acquire their properties and they are most interested in doing so. It would raise much needed finance for local authorities.

The Bill is scheduled for publication in May.

With regard to the water services (No. 3) Bill, Uisce Éireann has proposed that if repairs are required outside a house, it will fix leaks up to within 1 m of the curtilage of the house. In respect of leaks inside the house, many of which in rural areas may be under floors, Uisce Éireann seems to think the insurance industry will pick up the tab. I would love to see the insurance industry doing so, but I have no doubt its underwriters will say they will fix leaks where there is a problem with the structure of the house.

That would make for a suitable parliamentary question.

If the only problem is that the meter is showing the leakage is causing excessive use of water, I very much doubt that the insurance industry will cover it. Will this issue be addressed? Will there be a realistic way for people to have internal leaks fixed, including leaks under floors identified during meter installation?

That is a very detailed question.

I do not think any legislation has been promised. As suggested by the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, it would be best to table a question to the Minister who would be in the best position to respond.