Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In the programme for legislation this session, which was published this morning, and in the confidence and supply agreement to facilitate a Fine Gael-led minority Government between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael it was very explicitly stated: "The Government will, within six weeks of its appointment, introduce and support legislation in the Oireachtas to suspend domestic water charges for a period of nine months from the end of the current billing cycle." The programme for legislation on the Water Services Bill proposes "To suspend the water charges for nine months and establish an External Advisory Body", and it states "Pre-Legislation Scrutiny to be determined". The establishment of an external advisory body in the same legislation as the suspension of water charges is not part of the original agreement. Will the Taoiseach confirm to the House that it is the Government's intention to fulfil the letter and spirit of the agreement and that the legislation to suspend domestic water charges for a period of nine months will be introduced to deal with the current billing cycle and will not have any other additions? If the provision to "establish an External Advisory Body" is put in, it will delay unnecessarily the legislation to suspend water charges and it will not happen within the six week timeframe. Whatever the Department or anybody else wants, there is a very clear political agreement in terms of legislation to suspend water charges for a period of nine months and I would appreciate the Taoiseach's confirmation that it is the Government's intention to do that.

There is also a commitment in the programme for Government that "Full regard will be had to any new evidence which emerges which would be likely to definitely establish the cause of the fire at Stardust". That is the Stardust fire inquiry. Will the Taoiseach confirm if there is any new evidence available and if there are plans to commence an inquiry because the language in the programme for Government is extremely difficult to understand? It is difficult to ascertain what direction it is pointing towards.

The national disability inclusion strategy is in the programme for Government. Will the Taoiseach confirm whether it has commenced and what format it will take? The disability sector is in a huge state of crisis in terms of access to services. All the providers are in dire straits in terms of financial allocations, moneys available to them, respite, residential and day cases, and the provision of therapies. It is in a crisis and I do not think there is an appreciation of that at Government level.

We wish all students who have commenced the leaving certificate and junior certificate examinations our best wishes and every success and that they achieve their best within their potential. There have been cuts applied in recent years in DEIS schools which resulted in more vulnerability in students in disadvantaged areas. There is an interesting commitment in the programme for Government, on which the Taoiseach might throw some light, "to narrow the gap between DEIS and non-DEIS schools, and examine how students outside of DEIS can be better supported". Will the Taoiseach indicate what the Government has in mind for that?

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