I welcome in advance the announcement to be made by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government of a social housing policy which is due to be unveiled this morning. Housing is of core importance to the Labour Party and the Minister's initiative merits considerable acclaim.

I wish to correct yesterday's record of the debate on water services. I wrongly attributed some comments to my good friend, Senator Sean D. Barrett. I apologise if I caused him any offence in the matter and note that the comments were not made by him but by one of his colleagues.