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.