In accordance with Standing Order 80(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 15 December 2021.

Seanad Éireann has passed the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2021 without recommendation.

I echo the points made by other speakers. We have to come to a decision that applies right across the country. People should be treated equally and the consistency that has been referred to should apply. It applies in town and country, as the Ceann Comhairle and I well know because we have had those debates in the past. There was a case once upon a time where there was a massive debate about an incline. There was a hill, for want of a better description, and the ridges of the houses had to differ. As it was propose…

Excuse me, but is there any possibility of speaking for a few minutes?

I could speak for hours on this subject, as could the Ceann Comhairle.

It remains to be seen if we will achieve the objectives that we want to. However, I agree entirely with the opinions expressed by my colleague just a few minutes ago. It is sad. We have had many debates on this subject and we still do not seem to be able to break through the glass wall. We know what should happen. We all talk about it. Yet we do not seem to make it happen. With no disrespect meant, the Opposition makes its contribution as well. It seems to be on the same track. I am sorry that Deputy Boyd Barrett i…

I have listened to the various remedies that have been put forward. They are interesting but they are confusing because they are contradictory with the exception of a few speakers. Deputy Bríd Smith suggested a return to communism to resolve the problem of Covid.

The point is this: that is an extreme remedy. Everyone forgets that we had that for 50 years and it failed. We could go back in that direction again, try out another experiment and say, "That is the way to go." Then we think of Venezuela where the cactus blows around the streets. One can imagine the music of Ennio Morricone as Clint Eastwood rides into town in the midst of it all. That scenario will solve no problems at all; it will only make what we have worse. One thing is certain. The front-line workers have bee…

It has not. That is the simple answer and we would want to watch out for that. What has happened is the Opposition has changed its views hourly and daily. It forgets one thing. The virus has changed almost every day and the urgency of the virus has also changed. It has become necessary to do different things in a different fashion in a different sequence on a daily basis. Let us consider other countries across the globe. They have had the same problems as this country and they have had to change their tactics. They…

Until the people are safe.

They can get rid of us all.

We will see.

That concludes the list of speakers and I now call on the Minister to reply. The Minister has a long list.

We cannot have a point of order.

The Deputy cannot control the debate.

I ask the Minister to reply to the debate. The Deputy cannot interrupt.

In accordance with Standing Order 80(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time on Wednesday, 8 December 2021.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

The Deputy cannot receive good news properly. He should put up his aerial.

I will not delay the House long because it has been a long day and a long night. I compliment the Minister on the dedication and the single-mindedness with which she set about the task she has had for the past year in the face of the advancing Covid pandemic and on being able to respond to so many people so quickly, turning around applications so quickly. It is a great tribute to her and her staff, all of whom have delivered extraordinarily, and we need to recognise that, particularly at a time when people have bee…