On Wednesday's business, No. 9a, motion regarding the report of the Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government under Standing Order 114 on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the quality of water intended for human consumption, I do not know what that recommendation is and the Labour Party does not have a member on the committee. I cannot ascertain, since I looked at the Order Paper, what exactly is proposed and I certainly could not accept a resolution without debate without knowing what it is. Perhaps the Minister will explain what it is and what exactly is recommended. Is the directive on water quality being accepted, transposed into Irish law or amended?

Perhaps the Government Whip or the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government could advise on this.

My understanding is that the committee made a decision on this matter only this morning. I have not been informed of the details of that decision myself but the committee agreed it.

The Minister is being asked a question. Do him the courtesy of letting him answer.

Perhaps the Chair of the committee might respond.

The committee has sent back a reasoned opinion and I believe it will be on the agenda tomorrow.

There is a time limit-----

How can we accept a motion without debate when we have not seen what the resolution is or what the reasoning is?

The Deputy can read it tonight.

It was not circulated to Members.

The all-party committee agreed it.

The all-party committee has discussed it and arrived at an agreement. One can trust it.

My own party is not represented on that committee. I think it is reasonable for all Members of the House to know what they are voting on. I do not think that is an outrageous ask.

To be helpful, we had a detailed presentation by Irish Water, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and the Environmental Protection Agency last week and we agreed unanimously that we would consider the report that was in front of us today. I have no difficulty with the debate or the Business Committee re-examining the issue. I think when people see what the committee is unanimously proposing this morning, they will see it is reasonable and proportional but there is nothing controversial in our recommendation.

We cannot trust it. It is like buying a pig in a poke.

Deputy Ó Broin is one of the establishment now, is he?

He is on the wrong side of this one.

Can we have a little bit of order, please? There seems to be a little confusion about this. My understanding is that it was agreed that this matter would be taken this week because there is a time constraint. It was discussed both at the Oireachtas joint committee and at the Business Committee last week and there was a clear understanding there that if the reasoned opinion was considered acceptable to the joint committee - Deputy Ó Broin has said it unanimously agreed on the matter - it could be taken here today.

The Government, led by the Department, has a responsibility to respond to the directive and make a recommendation to the Commission as it sees fit.

I note, for example, that elements of it were in excess of the recommendations of the World Health Organization, WHO. We were supportive of the Department bringing together the various stakeholders to bring their opinions to bear on the Government concerning the recommendation to the Commission, in order to have it watered down, to use an expression. That was an unfortunate pun. As Members will know, the issue has been extensively debated in various forums. However, I refer to this proposal.

The motion is tomorrow.

The business will be amended tomorrow to allow for brief contributions. Is the proposal for dealing with Thursday's business agreed to? Agreed.