Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Given what was said earlier, is it now promised that section 4 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill will be deleted on Committee Stage? Will the Tánaiste confirm that we can expect amendments in line with what was said by the Minister for Social Protection last night? Will section 4, which deals with the reduction in payments to single parents up to 2014 and establishing the age of seven years for the youngest child, be deleted?

In addition, can the Tánaiste confirm when the regulations arising from the Water Services (Amendment) Bill with regard to septic tanks will be published? The Minister, Deputy Phil Hogan, has said in writing to Deputies, and particularly to Deputy Ó Cuív, that he does not propose to publish these regulations because, he said, they would cause too much confusion.

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