I thank Senator Clonan.

Hear, hear.

I understand that Senator Boyhan wishes to speak.

Senator Mullen is welcome to speak.

Thank you for that.

I am just coming to that. I ask Senator Mullen to keep his remarks as relevant as he can.

I have a motion on the Order Paper.

Senator Ruane is next.

I thank Senator Ruane.

I thank the Cathaoirleach. I greatly appreciate his kind words. I was not at yesterday's proceedings because I am in five vulnerable categories with regard to Covid-19, so I am afraid of crowds. The first issue, of two, which I want to raise is that of Qatar. It is in the news now because of the football being played there, a tournament which the country secured by bribery. There is no question or doubt about this. The whole process was corrupt. Qatar has an appalling record on human rights. The stadiums were built…

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach and it is very nice to be back here in Seanad Éireann. I think sometimes we forget how privileged we are to live in this wonderful country of Ireland, which is liberal, tolerant, decent and respect the rights of people. It is a real privilege to be here. I look at reports, for example, about the ignorant American priest who came over here to County Kerry and gave out all sorts about gay people and so on. It is a load of rubbish. I mean the founder of Christianity, Jesus Christ himsel…

Very good. In the old days I was a single voice.

I move amendment No. 1: In page 11, to delete lines 29 and 30, and in page 12, to delete lines 1 and 2. I understand the Cathaoirleach with his usual graciousness will allow me to make a general statement.

Today is the 40th anniversary of the death of Terence Higgins after whom the Terence Higgins AIDS trust was founded. It is worthy of note by Seanad Éireann in view of the tragic consequences of that epidemic. I would like also to recognise and thank my colleague, the vice-chancellor of The University of Dublin, Dr. Seán Barrett, who is with us today in the Visitors Gallery. He is a distinguished former Member of this House and has provided me with a considerable number of amendments, not all of which I imagine we w…

This 142-page Bill has serious implications for Ireland because it will make Ireland a country that will not tolerate even one autonomous university. This is about autonomy. Trinity College Dublin, TCD, in particular, has a very distinguished historical background, as, of course, has Maynooth University, which was founded in the days before Catholic Emancipation. The Bill is a power grab of the permanent Government in Ireland - the powerful, senior bureaucracy. What started as a review of the first 50 years of the …

Excuse me-----

My script says perhaps they should have a chat.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment’s annual budget is just short of €900 million. IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland firms employ some 475,000 people. The agencies do not appoint people to the boards of the enterprises they finance. The reward to Irish society is the employment they create, rather than seats on these companies' boards. Should the reward to Irish society from successful universities, such as TCD and others, be the graduates they produce rather than a handful of seats on governing bod…

Let the record show that the Minister is shaking his head.

It has been guillotined.