We are in an election period with the local and European elections being held on 23 May. The issue I raise now is one I raised when I served on a county council, namely, that something must be done about our electoral register. The issue of the register may not apply as much in a general election because it is more likely that people will be registered in a constituency and they may vote in a centre five or six miles from where they live but the issue applies in local elections where areas are divided and people may not vote in the area in which they are living. It is time that we had a review of the way our register is compiled and I ask the Leader write to the Minister on the Environment, Community and Local Government and to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government about this. It is time the PPS number was tied into the electoral register in order that when a person reaches the age of 18 years, his or her name will automatically be put on the register. The PPS number will tie in with one's residence and address and one's name will appear on the register where one is living. There is considerable duplication on the register and many people have moved out of areas and their name should no longer appear on the register in those areas. It is every citizen's right to vote in this county. Some people do not take on the onus of putting their name on the register. County councils have done their best over the years and have sent people around knocking on doors and written letters but suddenly at election time people will say that their name is not on the register. It is time we changed the way our register is compiled. The PPS number is the way to do it. I ask that the Leader to write to the Minister and to the Oireachtas joint committee about this. If we do not deal with the issue now, it will be 2016 when we will think about it again when the general election will be held. It is time to do it now while the iron is hot.

Senators Marc MacSharry, Imelda Henry, Michael Mullins, Paul Coghlan and others raised the issue of discretionary medical cards. I am not agreeing to the amendment proposed to the Order of Business. The Minister has spoken on the matter and is examining the situation. Senator Marc MacSharry gave a wrong indication when he spoke about blind people, especially when we recall that Fianna Fáil completely cut blind people's allowances, but we will not go into that. Several Members pointed to the problems with medical cards, while Senator Terry Leyden referred to documents which had gone missing. I have come across that problem on several occasions. It is very frustrating for people who know that they have given the required information to be told their documents have gone missing. That is totally unacceptable, irrespective of what Department or organisation is involved. It is extremely frustrating for the people concerned. Senator John Kelly made the point that a German company was involved in reviewing medical cards. Senator Terry Leyden also referred to that point. These comments deserve a response and I will bring the matter to the attention of the relevant Minister.

Senator Marc MacSharry also raised the issue of water charges. The Government has taken a brave stance, which Members on the other side of the House said would not happen. The Government stated it would give an indication before an election of what the charges would be. There is no cuteness. We are putting the figures to the people in a transparent manner before an election, which is to be welcomed. I think this will be welcomed. They certainly will not welcome having to pay more money, but they will welcome the transparency of the Government in being up front and putting the figures before them.

In regard to Fianna Fáil, its original deal with the troika envisaged a €400 annual charge from last year, with no allowances. That is what it signed up to. In regard to Sinn Féin, in Northern Ireland it already charges for water indirectly as part of the domestic rates regime which includes a property tax.

It recently deferred the introduction of direct charging for water until 2016. At an average figure of €950 per household, domestic rates in the North are already far in excess of their equivalent in the South.