The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, referral to committee, to be taken at the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, statements on the report of the Commission on the Economic Development of Rural Ireland, to be taken at 2 p.m. and to conclude not later than 4 p.m., with the contributions from group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and all other Senators not to exceed five minutes and the Minister to be called on to reply to the debate not later than 3.55 p.m.; No. 3, statements on access to finance for SMEs, to be taken at 4 p.m. and to conclude not later than 5 p.m., with the contributions from all Senators not to exceed eight minutes and the Minister to be called on to reply to the debate not later than 4.55 p.m.; and No. 4, Private Members' business, Adoption (Identity and Information) Bill 2014 - Second Stage, to be taken at 5 p.m., with the time allocated for the debate not to exceed two hours.

The Government will make announcements to try to resolve some of the issues surrounding the debacle of Irish Water and water charging. We await with interest to see what those announcements will be. Most of them have been in the media so I reckon we have a fair idea of what will be involved. I understand there will be a full debate in the Dáil and Government a motion on the issue of Irish Water will be put to the Dáil tomorrow evening. Therefore, I assume that a motion will be brought to the Seanad and there will be a debate in the Seanad on the revised proposals from Government. I ask the Leader to clarify the position.

It is important that we have a debate on water services. Last year we had a debate with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on the public expenditure side in terms of the investment on water infrastructure. He promised certain things then that have not come to fruition, in particular a review of the greater Dublin drainage scheme, which is €1.9 billion that the State plans to waste. We did put forward alternatives. Over the next few weeks or early in January we should have a debate on water services investment and infrastructure with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. I am not sure why the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform came here for the last debate.

Last week the Minister for Health came here for a debate on health in which many Senators, from across the House, participated. I got two and half minutes to contribute but was restricted in what issues I could raise. One area I raised, and which I have consistently raised in here, is the review on the multiple sclerosis drug called Fampyra which has been pending since 25 July. During the debate I asked the Minister directly whether he would simply call the review section in the HSE to inquire where the review is at. I remind colleagues that the drug only costs €270 per month and 1,500 MS sufferers benefit from it but they have been unable to access it since July. The drug improves mobility and many of the people who suffer from MS, in particular women, cannot go back to work.

The Minister said last week that it would be inappropriate for him to intervene. I did not ask him to pull a stroke or intervene. I simply asked him to do his job which entails asking the officials in the Department why are they sitting on the review of a multiple sclerosis drug since 25 July. It is now November but 1,500 people cannot access life changing drugs that they need. That is a disgrace and I am tired of raising the matter. At least I can stand on my own two feet and raise the issue on behalf of people who cannot stand because they cannot get a drug that costs €270 a month. I wish to table an amendment to the Order of Business that the Minister for Health comes in here, for just half an hour, to provide us with an update, bar the same answer I have received since July that it is up for review. I want him to provide us with an update and give us a timeframe for when the drug will be made available to 1,500 people with multiple sclerosis in this country.

I also welcome the fact that we will see an announcement this afternoon by the Government on revisions to the charging proposals for Irish Water. We do not know the full package but we have seen a good deal of information about them in recent days in the newspapers. The revisions are a sign of responsiveness by the Government to the concerns expressed by people through peaceful demonstrations. I welcome the suggestion that there may be moves taken, not just to reassure people on price affordability and certainty of pricing, but also on the need to reassure people that Irish Water will stay in public ownership. The latter is a hugely important issue about which there is a great deal of concern. Yesterday, the Leader said we would have a debate in this House on the package of measures this afternoon which is welcome. I know he is seeking to arrange the debate.

I ask the Leader to arrange a debate, in due course, on crime statistics and crime rates in Ireland. I will also raise this matter with the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality. It is a matter of great concern to see that the Garda Inspectorate's report raised issues about inconsistencies in recording of offences reported to the Garda. This situation is not unique to Ireland and we have seen it happen in a number of other jurisdictions. This week in Britain this subject has also been in the news as serious concerns have been expressed that one in five crimes reported to police are not recorded as such. There is a general concern about the matter but the Garda Inspectorate's report raised a number of specific issues. In yesterday's newspapers there was an announcement by the CSO that it may have to defer its publication of crime statistics because of these concerns, which is a worrying development. Over the years we have had a lot of problems, generally, with the way in which we record crime statistics with changes made making comparisons between years very difficult. This is a difficult matter for statisticians but it is also a difficult one for policymakers when trying to judge different rates of decrease or increase in particular crimes. I would like us to have a comprehensive debate on the matter once the Oireachtas justice committee has reviewed the issue.

Yesterday, in light of the decision in the case taken by Dr. Sheehy Skeffington against the National University of Galway, I asked the Leader for a debate on gender and promotions in third level education. In the New Year I would also like us to have a debate on third level education more generally. A number of us heard a very good briefing from the HEA last week about this matter and on different plans for the development of third level, in particular the changes within the IT sector to develop technological universities. I know the Leader has an interest in this topic and I would like him to arrange a debate on same in the New Year.

I second the amendment to the Order of Business tabled by Senator Darragh O'Brien.

Today is national water day and the Government is trying its best to rescue the situation. It has been a political disaster for the Government and the country. The household charges should have been amalgamated. A far more logical approach would have been to insist the property tax had an element of water service. I do not think the Government will get out of the trap that easily. We will see what happens during the course of the day and we will have a debate here.

I wish to give notice to the Leader that I intend to reactivate No. 30 on the Order Paper, the Registration of Wills Bill 2011 - Second Stage (Resumed). I am not sure whether he will provide Government time for the legislation. I brought in this Private Members' legislation which was approved by Fine Gael, the Labour Party, Fianna Fáil, and the Independents in the Seanad between 2007 and 2011. When I re-introduced the legislation, because it lapsed in the previous Seanad, there was not as much support. The legislation has not been put to a vote and I intend to re-activate it. I intend to lobby my colleagues, particularly new Senators like Senator Craughwell and others, on its contents which are logical and reasonable.

The premise has been accepted throughout the Council of Europe and some countries have a system to register wills. People here are being deprived of a human right to their inheritance. Due to the neglect of legal firms that have hidden or lost the wills book there is mayhem and people cannot locate wills. I cannot understand that a Government that came to office on the basis of transparency and trying to reform the law would not support my legislation. I appeal to Senator Bacik and the Leader to reconsider the matter. I shall make a presentation to my colleagues over the next few weeks and I hope to move the legislation in early 2015.