Slán abhaile.

Before I call Senator O'Loughlin, I welcome the guests from the Abbeyfeale Active Retirement Association to the Seanad. They had a long journey. They are very welcome and I hope they enjoy their day and the few minutes of this session. The Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, has had a mixed grill, from Gaelscoileanna in Roscommon to the Curragh of Kildare. Is he taking the next matter?

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, for his responses and co-operation as he took five Commencement matters. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon. I will move from one Kildare person to another and call Senator O'Loughlin.

I thank the Minister of State for his response.

As both the Senator and Minister of State have said, the Curragh Plains is a beautiful and unique landscape. It is a particularly lovely location for a drive. I thank the Minister of State, fellow colleagues and staff. The ushers were very good at telling us who was in the Gallery today.

Like others, I compliment the Cathaoirleach on the excellent leadership he gave this morning in our historic morning in the Houses of the Oireachtas. It was historic for the wrong reasons but it was nevertheless wonderful to see the pride, honesty and sincerity of the Cathaoirleach, the Ceann Comhairle, our Taoiseach and other speakers. We all have to stand with the Ukrainian people. That brings me to the point of now being able to support Ukrainian people here in Ireland on an ongoing basis. I do not believe the n…

I welcome the Minister to the House.

I have asked Senator McGahon to take the Chair in a few minutes to allow me to make a short contribution. Is that agreed? Agreed. I will move on to Senator Seery Kearney, who is sharing time with Senator Buttimer, two minutes each. If Senator Seery Kearney watches the clock, she will know when to hand over.

I usually do not disagree with Senator Buttimer but I do not agree with that point. My understanding of such secondments is that Ministers do not sign off on them. I thought the Minister did quite well in this morning's two interviews in the media that I heard. We will differ on the matter and I am sure the Minister will clarify it further. Dr. Holohan has made a major contribution over a period, which we all acknowledge. He took much abuse as well. It is really great to see the Minister here again. Like others, I …

I thank all Members for their valuable contributions. I call the Minister to respond.

I thank the Minister for his contribution and wish him well. He is facing many challenges and he could have done without the challenge of Covid. There are many challenges in health. We all wish him well. I thank my fellow Senators for their contributions, and the staff, including the ushers, for their assistance and help. That concludes the statements.

I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

The Minister of State is welcome to the House. I compliment Senator Clonan. I was not here the other day, but it was nice to hear him say a few words on this debate and I am sure he will make many valuable contributions to the House in his time here. Naturally, Fianna Fáil welcomes this Bill which concerns the substitute consent regime of Part XA of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The Bill's purpose, as the Minister of State pointed out, is essentially to streamline the substitute consent procedure in the pl…

Next Tuesday.

Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach agus tá fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Seanad an tráthnóna seo. Like many others, I want to welcome the Minister’s statement earlier today on artists. It is groundbreaking. It has been very much acknowledged and recognised. I met with the Music and Entertainment Association of Ireland, MEAI, today and it is very happy with what the Minister proposed. It will be very important and significant in terms of developing the whole area of arts, whatever form of art it is. …

I welcome the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, to the House.

Amendment No. 1 has been ruled out of order as it is not relevant to the subject matter of the Bill.

Amendment No. 2 has been ruled out of order as it is not relevant to the Bill.

The Senator is entitled to his opinion and that is why I gave him that space. The Bill will be back before the House on Report Stage next week. The Minister and Senator Seery Kearney would like to say a word.