I wish to add to what some of my colleagues said about water pricing. I acknowledge the steps that have been taken by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in acknowledging the massive and grave mistakes that were made by the previous Minister, which were highlighted by this side of the House during the debate in February this year, on the establishment of Irish Water and the pricing model to be used. Irrespective of what happens today and the tweaking around the edges in terms of establishing a fixed price over a period, the quango that is Irish Water still exists. The best approach would be for the Government to make a decision to disband the company in its current format and to move the responsibility back to the public ownership in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the local authorities where councillors would at least have responsibility for making decisions and for overseeing work and investment plans through the county council process.

What happened in England, for example, when a decision was taken to semi-privatise water provision through the creation of regional authorities, resulted in regional water monopolies which increased the price by more than 200% in a 20-year period. The average cost of water per household in England currently is approximately £456 sterling. That is the actual cost of the water, and it would be the equivalent cost of providing water in this country if it was averaged out on a household basis. The difficulty in England is that a semi-private, off-balance sheet monopoly was created on a regional basis but when investment was required, it was privatised or sold. Private investors bought the regional authorities. The British Government then tried to claw back the mistake it had made. It acknowledged that a mistake had been made but it was too late at that stage. I fear that in five, ten or 15 years' time, we will come to the inevitable conclusion, irrespective of who is in government, that a grave mistake was made but it will be too late at that stage. We can try to enshrine certain provisions in legislation but it will be too late unless we disband the existing structure. We see that it is a mistake. Millions of euro have been wasted on spin doctors and consultants to replicate what is already in place through the local authority structure and through the Department. I fear that soon it will be too late to do anything. While the changes being introduced today might solve the problem for some for the next two to three years, the longer-term picture will not be solved.

Senator Darragh O'Brien and several other speakers spoke about water charges and the investment in infrastructure for a water supply. I am arranging to have a debate on the matter on Tuesday next. I hope everyone will have an opportunity to attend. We must bear in mind that the Minister was present for a debate on the matter in recent weeks, but I assure Members that the new proposals will be debated in the House on Tuesday next.

Senator Darragh O'Brien also proposed an amendment to the Order of Business. He has raised the matter of the drug, fampridine, on a number of occasions. He also indicated that he had raised the matter with the Minister himself only last week. The Minister, Deputy Varadkar, is abroad today and cannot come to the House for statements and I cannot therefore amend the Order of Business to suit the Senator's request. However, I will give some background to the matter. I remember reading about fampridine a number of months ago. The manufacturer of fampridine supplied the drug free of charge to some patients who were prescribed it by their clinician. The manufacturer recently decided to stop supplying the drug free of charge and, as a consequence, the patients affected are now faced with financing the drug themselves if they wish to continue with the drug treatment.

Fampridine was never available to multiple sclerosis patients under the community drug schemes. The HSE has received an application for the inclusion of fampridine in the general medical services scheme and community drugs schemes. The application was considered in line with the procedures agreed with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association. In accordance with these procedures, the National Centre for Pharmaeconomics, NCPE commenced a health technology assessment, HTA, of the project is May 2013 which was completed in August 2013. The HTA provides detailed information on the potential budget impact of the medicine. It also assesses whether the medicine is cost-effective at the price quoted by the manufacturer. In the report the NCPE concluded that fampridine is a high-cost drug which requires intensive neurological assessment both initially and throughout longer-term follow-up. An assessment of the cost-effectiveness of fampridine was not presented in the submission made by the manufacturer nor was any of the other evidence of cost-effectiveness of fampridine found. While it is as yet unknown what impact improvement in walking speed has on quality of life, studies are ongoing to assess the wider impact of fampridine on both walking and quality of life.

As the manufacturer was unable to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of fampridine in the Irish health care setting, the NCPE was unable to recommend the reimbursement of the drug under the community drug schemes. The NCPE report was an important input to assist decision-making and helps inform the next stage of the process, which involves further discussions with the manufacturer of the drug in accordance with the aforementioned procedures agreed with the pharmaceutical industry. The report is available on the NCPE's website.

The HSE's assessment process is intended to arrive at a decision on funding of the new medicines that is clinically appropriate, fair, consistent and sustainable. It is open to the supplier at any time to submit a new application to the HSE incorporating evidence which demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of fampridine. The HSE will then reconsider the application in line with the agreed procedures and timescales.

The issue is being considered at length. I agree it is taking a long time for a decision to be made. Even though Senator Darragh O'Brien raised the matter with the Minister last week, I will try to ensure the Senator is forwarded a written reply to update him on the position. I am unable to amend the Order of Business for the reasons I have outlined.

Senator Bacik raised the matter of having a debate on gender equality among staff in the workplace, especially in the universities. She raised that issue yesterday but I did not comment on it then. Senator Healy Eames also raised that matter this morning. I will bring the matter to the attention of the relevant Minister.

Senator Bacik also called for a debate on crime statistics and the Garda Inspectorate report. She also called for a debate on third level education in general. Senator Craughwell also called for such a debate. Senator Cullinane called for a similar debate with specific reference to the Waterford Institute of Technology. I will contact the Minister to try to facilitate such a debate for the Members.

Senator Leyden raised the matter of reactivating his Registration of Wills Bill. He raised this matter in the previous Seanad and the Government turned it down but he is quite clear that this matter can be resumed and I will see what I can do.