The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on water sector reforms, to be taken at 4.30 p.m. and conclude not later than 6.30 p.m., with the contributions of all Senators not to exceed five minutes in each case and the Minister to be called on to reply to the debate not later than 6.25 p.m.

Last week I asked in advance of the Government's row-back on water charges, which was welcome, if we could have a proper debate in the House. Why are we taking statements today, while the other House will debate a motion tabled by the Government? Perhaps there is a procedural reason for so doing. Is the reason we are taking statements we have no input to financial matters? Obviously, we cannot vote on the issue either.

The issue of water conservation has gone out the window because under the new proposal a flat charge will be imposed, which is a complete row-back. That means that the setting up of Irish Water has been an absolute waste of money. I remind the Government that when we debated the Water Services Bill last year, and even prior to its introduction, it was advised by independent consultants and many in the Opposition that Irish Water should not be set up as a subsidiary of Bord Gáis Energy, that it should be a separate entity. We can debate all of the issues about future privatisation, charging and wastage during the taking of statements, but I am interested in knowing, perhaps there is a procedural reason, why the Government parties in this House have not tabled a motion on Irish Water, as opposed to blandly taking statements?

As the Leader knows, the Central Bank is accepting submissions on future draft guidelines on mortgage lending. Many individuals and parties will submit their views on the draft guidelines which propose, in effect, that an individual or a couple should have a 20% deposit. It would be worth debating the matter in the House as views on the subject differ greatly. As someone who worked in the financial services sector for the guts of 15 years, I know that it is the multiple of salary used that is the most important element. Having a 20% deposit rate for a young couple or an individual will put owning a house or an apartment out of reach for many. It means that people will need a deposit of €60,000 if they wish to buy a house that costs €300,000. Many individuals are caught in a situation where rents have escalated and their ability to save additional income has been greatly diminished. I understand there must be controls to make sure we do not see 100% mortgages in the future, but we do not need to be disproportionate in this regard. We must not consign a raft of people and another generation to a situation where they will not be able to own their home should they wish to do so. Before people start to talk about what happens in the rest of Europe, including Germany and France where people rent for life, I remind them that we have a totally different culture. Also, in some countries there are proper rent controls which we do not have here. As Members will know, in the city and county of Dublin and many other cities across the State rents have increased by between 30% and 50% in the past year alone. I, therefore, ask the Leader to schedule a debate on the issue at an appropriate time. The guidelines may have been published, but the Seanad still could make a submission on the matter.

We will take statements on water services later, as requested by many colleagues. In the debate, undoubtedly, we will tease out the issues around the package of reform measures announced by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, last week which still have a very strong conservation element. As meters are installed, the issue of conservation will come more to the fore. Clearly, the package contains the provision that if metered usage is less than the maximum charge, people will receive credit for same. Conservation will increasingly be an important part of the water services programme as people become more aware of the issue. As every Member is aware, nearly 49% of water leaks from the system are due to the lack of infrastructural investment over many decades. Therefore, we all need to be much more conscious of the need for conservation. I hope we will see increased awareness and I am confident that we will with the new measures.

I thank the Leader for amending the Order of Business last Thursday to have a minute's silence to mark the killing and murder of so many women and children through violence in the home. Many of us participated in the very poignant event held outside Leinster House at 11 a.m. last Thursday.

At the event Women's Aid had arranged for a display of shoes representing women who had been killed as well as their children. That brought home to all of us the need for more action on domestic violence. I call on the Leader to arrange a debate in the new year on the report of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality on domestic violence which makes some important recommendations for change. I know that the Minister for Justice and Equality is in the process of developing new legislation in this area.

I also call for a debate on third level education. I have asked for one before, but we might include in the debate issues around access to education. I figured it was timely to mention the issue during national college awareness week, which runs this week from 24 to 30 November. The aim is to increase the awareness of the importance of going to college and demonstrate the impact a third level experience can make on individual lives and communities. I am pleased to say this was originally piloted within the Trinity College access programmes. The Trinity access programmes, TAP, continue to play a key role in the campaign, although national college awareness week is now a national campaign. There are events throughout the Trinity campus this week, as well as throughout other third level campuses, highlighting the importance of third level education. The aim is to try to increase the visibility of third level education in many communities. I congratulate all involved in that campaign, particularly in the TAP which have been so successful in Trinity College Dublin.