As I pointed out to the Senator before he spoke, while I was asking him to move amendment No. 1 only, he could speak to both amendments. There will be an opportunity at the end of the debate for the Senator to press his amendments if he so wishes. I have to follow the order of the House in making these decisions in the Chair.

I hope that has clarified the situation for the Senator. I call Senator Hoey.

I move: That Seanad Éireann: bearing in mind the serious allegations of discrimination, bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct in the Defence Forces; noting the decision of Government, in January 2022, to establish an Independent Review Group (IRG) to examine such issues and provide recommendations and guidance to the Minister for Defence on measures and strategies required to underpin a workplace based on dignity, equality, mutual respect, and duty of care for every member of the Defence For…

I welcome the Tánaiste to the House. The ladies and gentlemen in the Gallery, former members of the Defence Forces, are also very welcome. I very much welcome the establishment of a tribunal of inquiry. The Government decision to establish it is the result of the tireless and courageous campaign mounted by the Women of Honour group. Along with many others, such as the Defence Forces Justice Alliance and the Air Corps Chemical Abuse Survivors, the Women of Honour are to be congratulated for their determination and p…

The debate will conclude after three hours if not previously concluded. As this is a Bill to amend the Constitution, in accordance with precedent and Standing Order 152, the Schedule to the Bill will be taken out of sequence, given that it contains substantive elements of the proposed amendment to the Constitution. The proposed sequence of the elements of the Bill is as follows: section 1, Schedule, section 2, Preamble and Title. Accordingly, immediately following the disposal of the first section of the Bill, I wi…

Amendment No. 1 has been ruled out of order, in accordance with Article 40.6.2° of the Constitution. Amendment No. 2 has been ruled out of order because it is in conflict with the principle of the Bill as read a Second Time.

Amendments Nos. 3 to 9, inclusive, are related.

Yes.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

That is fine.

I join in the words of welcome to Miriam and her husband, to Senator Norris's director of elections and to my great friend, the former Leader of this House, Maurice Cummins. It is great to see them here today. This is a sad day and a happy day. It is a day that we hoped would never come, but it has. That is your decision, Senator Norris, and I wish you well in it. I have a number of speaking notes. I will call them speaking notes because Senator Dooley referred to 2002, when we first came to the Seanad. Senator Nor…

Thank you, Senator.

The Minister has been called to vote in the Dáil.

I propose that we suspend the sitting until the conclusion of the division in the Lower House. Is that agreed? Agreed.

On the resumption of the debate, Senator Ahearn is in possession. He is sharing time with Senator Dolan and has ten seconds remaining. That is ten seconds not ten minutes.

Colleagues, there are six more speakers on my list and we have to call on the Minister to respond at 4.30 p.m., so please be as brief as possible and share time if possible.

Senator Keogan, please.

The Minister is entitled to respond.

Please. Senator Keogan had the opportunity to make her comments. The Minister has the opportunity to respond. I ask that the Senator allow her to do so without interruption.

The Minister without interruption, please. This has been a respectful debate so far. Do not ruin it in the last few minutes. That is all I am going to ask.