Senator Darragh O'Brien and other Senators mentioned the Central Bank's rule of having a 20% mortgage deposit. The Central Bank Bill will be brought before the House on Thursday and I know that it will deal with a specific matter. Personally, needing to have a 20% mortgage deposit is a little unrealistic, particularly for young people who are trying to get on the first rung of the housing ladder. Obviously, other Members of the House will disagree with my viewpoint, but I hope sense will prevail and that a progression over a number of years towards a figure of 20% will be contemplated by the Central Bank. I am sure this is not the last time we will have words about it and that we can debate the matter. I am also sure submissions have been made by the public and groups, but we must await what the Central Bank has to state on the matter.

I note the point made by Senator Darragh O'Brien about breast prosthesis and a request that funding be standardised the length and breadth of the country. I agree with him and the subject can be raised with the Minister when he comes into the House after the Order of Business.

Senators Ivana Bacik, Terry Leyden, David Norris and Michael Mullins, among others, mentioned the Paris killings. They were reprehensible acts. Senator Ivana Bacik called for a debate on blasphemy, while other Senators, including Senators David Norris and Michael Mullins, pointed out that one human life was as valuable as another. Such points will be taken into consideration. I am sure we will have a debate on blasphemy in the not too distant future.

Senator Ivana Bacik called for us to proceed with the Employment Protection (No. 2) Bill. I will find out the current status of the Bill and whether the Department is ready to take Committee Stage.

Senator Katherine Zappone mentioned the right-left divide and the need for clarity in political policies. She also called for a debate on quantitative easing. As Senator Sean D. Barrett mentioned, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, commented on the matter at yesterday's conference.

Senator Jim D'Arcy mentioned Irish Water. Senator Fidelma Healy Eames raised the same point which I will address in my final comments.

Senators Jim D'Arcy, Paul Coghlan, Diarmuid Wilson, Terry Brennan and Michael Mullins referred to the toxic waste and sludge being dumped into rivers in the Republic, especially in north Louth, as a result of diesel laundering. Those engaging in this practice are former subversives and gangsters. It is affecting not only the economy but also the health and safety of people in north Louth and on the other side of the Border. I agree that the matter will have to be dealt with firmly. The Garda and the Customs service on this side of the Border take it very seriously and I hope this is also the case in the North. There is a doubt about whether the PSNI and others on the other side of the Border are dealing with it properly, but I can assure the Senators that it will be dealt with. I will certainly raise it with the Taoiseach with a view to having it raised with the British Prime Minister. It is very serious and I know that it will be discussed. There is an item dealing specifically with it on the agenda of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly in February. Senator Paul Coghlan is chairman of the relevant sub-committee. I assure the House that the matter will be raised very firmly at that meeting. From a health and safety and an economic perspective, the practice in which gangsters are involved is reprehensible and the sooner they are brought to justice, the better for everybody in the State and those on the other side of the Border.

Senator Marc MacSharry referred to the nursing home sector and the need for major capital investment in some nursing homes in order that they will be safe and fit for purpose. I am sure the matter will be raised with the Minister for Health in the debate on the HSE national service plan.

Senator Mary Moran referred to the Irish design expo at the RDS, showcasing what was best in Irish design. We compliment all those involved. I note the Senator's points about the WALK PEER programme which may be the subject of a Commencement matter in the future.

Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell had a number of questions about the progress made in the appointment of a lottery regulator. I will certainly raise the matter with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

On the public water forum, the Minister will be in the House tomorrow to discuss the issue of water meters, the subject of the Private Members' motion tabled by Fianna Fáil. Perhaps Senators David Cullinane and Gerard P. Craughwell might wait until then to discuss their concerns. I ask them to consider withdrawing their proposed amendment to the Order of Business, as I am sure the matter they wish to discuss can be discussed during the debate on the Private Members' motion tomorrow evening.

Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell also asked about how much of the property tax would go to Irish Water this year. I will ascertain the position with the relevant Minister.

Senator Paul Coghlan complimented Mr. Duffy on the major transformation taking place in AIB and wished him well for the future.

Senator Sean D. Barrett raised a number of items. I have responded to what he said about the comments made by the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, at a conference yesterday on the question of quantitative easing. The Senator called for a debate on upward-only rent reviews and costs incurred in that regard. He also welcomed the appointment of the new Canadian ambassador to Ireland, Mr. Kevin Vickers.

Senator John Gilroy lauded the work of nurses and asked the Minister for Health to become more involved in the dispute between the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland and nurses over registration fees. I am sure the Senator could raise that matter with the Minister in the debate we will have on health issues after the Order of Business.

Senator David Cullinane called for a debate on housing and rent caps. I understand the Labour Party intends to propose a Private Members' motion on that issue on 11 February when the relevant Minister will be present to discuss it.

Senator John Kelly spoke about wind energy and raised the question of people not complying with planning permissions. I suggest to him that the local authorities should have a role to play if people are not complying. It would be a serious matter if local authorities were not using their powers to deal with those who do not comply with planning permissions.

Senator Terry Leyden spoke about the Paris killings and suggested the actions of Air France in circulating Charlie Hebdo had been very provocative.

Senator Gerard P. Craughwell raised the question of health and safety in so far as it pertained to water meters. He also suggested he was in favour of the retention of the proposed 20% mortgage deposit requirement.

I have dealt with the matter of fuel laundering which was raised by Senator Diarmuid Wilson.

Senator Michael Mullins called for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, to report on the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council held in Brussels this week.

Senator Jim Walsh asked for a debate on home ownership. As I said, the Labour Party has tabled a Private Members' motion that it intends to move on 11 February when we can have a debate on the matter. The Senator also called for a debate on legal costs, with specific reference to the cost of tribunals. Senator Martin Conway advised us that some economists were giving advice to the banking inquiry free of charge and called for legal practitioners to adopt a similar course of action. I think we would probably be waiting a long time for that to happen, but one never knows, it might happen.

Senator Colm Burke praised the work of everybody involved in accident and emergency services. He said that, on average, over 8,000 people attended accident and emergency departments each week. I am sure other related matters will be raised during the debate that will take place after the Order of Business.

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames, rightly, pointed out that the Environmental Protectin Agency, EPA, had published its annual report for 2013 on drinking water. It points out that while the public drinking water supply is of a high quality, 121 of the country's 978 water supply plants are on the EPA's remedial action list. The 121 plants in question affect almost 940,000 people. There is no question that 121 is a large number. There is a need for improvements to disinfection systems and better management of water treatment services. Further improvements are required owing to the introduction of more stringent requirements for lead.

There is a need for Irish Water to remove and prevent boil water notices, implement a national lead strategy, optimise a treatment process to reduce all contaminants in water and prioritise RAL schemes. The findings of the report reinforce the Government's policy of creating a single national utility to bring new levels of co-ordination, expertise and investment to managing Ireland's drinking water supplies. The findings relate to 2013, the last year for which the local authorities were responsible for water services. Irish Water assumed responsibility for them from 1 January 2014.

It is 2015 according to the EPA.