The Senator is fine.

I thank Senator Keogan, who was very much inside the time. I am looking at a sheet of paper that lists 11 speakers and the Minister must speak again at 4.20 p.m. I ask people that, if they do not need the five minutes, not to use up all the time. We will try to get in all speakers. I want to be fair to everybody.

I thank the Senator for her co-operation. I am looking at a list of eight Senators who want to contribute and I am anxious that everybody gets his or her say. I suggest that Senators cut their contributions to three minutes. It may not seem fair but in order that all Members get a crack of the whip and that the Minister be allowed ample time to respond, I ask you all to co-operate with me. I am not going to rule on it. I am asking for you to co-operate with me, and if Members can fit their contributions into three …

I really appreciate your support, Senator. I call Senator Wall of the Labour Party.

Like many other Members, I pay tribute to the Minister for the way she has handled her brief. It has certainly been a baptism of fire but her silent work behind the scenes have been incredible. I want to give her a clear message from the parents and teachers from my region. We all know that we have challenges but they really appreciate and are proud of what the Minister has done. I have been told to bring that message to the Minister. I think education is in good hands. I thank all Members, across party lines, for …

Do I have eight minutes?

If the House agrees, I will give two minutes to Senator McGreehan.

I will take seven minutes and give three minutes to my colleague, Senator McGreehan.

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Along with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, she should be complimented on dealing with this matter so quickly and efficiently. Before I say my few words, I appeal to everyone in this House that while we must have an open discussion and listen to everybody's point of view, we must realise why this Bill is coming through and why some people might use the phrase "fast track" to describe its passage. It is being fast-tracked because tho…

I join Senator McGreehan in seconding the motion. I am delighted to see the Minister present. We all agree he is very strong on this and represents us well. I am very confident in him, the Taoiseach and others. With the respect we have in Europe, we will win this battle. In a very short space of time, the UK will be outside the EU Single Market and the customs union. Regardless of the outcome of the future relationship negotiations, the provisions of the withdrawal agreement and the protocol on Ireland and Northern…

We move now to Sinn Féin. I understand Senator Ó Donnghaile is sharing time with Senator McCallion.

Go raibh maith agat, a Sheanadóir. I call Senator Black, who has eight minutes.

Buíochas leis an Seanadóir Martin. Anois tá Malcolm Byrne againn ó Fhianna Fáil agus tá ocht nóiméad aige.

I agree with the comments of Senator McDowell in regard to meat factories. The public is not happy with what is going on in the meat factories. We all know the importance of the jobs in that area and the importance of the export market but for this particular business to be up and running, we must have in place the strictest conditions and testing. That is not happening and there are question marks over what is going on there. I appeal to the Government and the HSE to ensure the strictest testing structure is put i…

I will keep this brief because I know we have to move on. Senator Wilson's contribution was very fitting. I have known Joe for many years. I think we first met during my broadcasting days, on one of many trips I made up to Cavan when I was with Shannonside Northern Sound. I always got a céad míle fáilte from Joe. Senator Wilson mentioned that Joe's wife comes from Roscommon. I know the Tully family very well. They are very well thought of in County Roscommon, and I know that Joe is also very well thought of in the …

Is deas an rud é go bhfuil mé ábalta cúpla focal a rá ar an plé seo. As we get into the real debate, we can see how concerned everybody is and how all Senators are linked in to the reality that we are in the middle of a pandemic. That was not the case during the debate on the Order of Business. The pandemic is not just an issue for Ireland, it is an issue for the world. I am glad that Senator Craughwell is now supporting the Bill. I welcome the Minister to the House and commend her on her work on the Bill, but to a…

I join others in thanking the staff of the Seanad for their work. From the first day I met the Clerk, Mr. Martin Groves, back at the beginning of April, he was most helpful and accommodating. I thank him, the Clerk Assistant, Ms Bridget Doody, and the other staff who have been so helpful at all times in putting up with us. On the last sitting day of the Seanad and Dáil, things can get out of hand. That certainly happened in the Dáil last night. When we talk about how fantastic the staff in Leinster House are, we sh…

There is very little time to express everything I want to say but nevertheless I will abide by the time constraints. The legislation seeks to protect both landlords and tenants. I do not own any property and neither does my family, but we must accept that we need landlords in the system. As has already been stated, many people are left houses by parents, uncles or aunts. Such people will say that renting property out is a nightmare, particularly if they cannot sell it on. In the few seconds I have left, I wish to s…

Tús is a work placement scheme which aims to provide work opportunities for those who are unemployed, while also assisting in providing certain services to benefit communities. Currently, there is a restriction on the random selection process for those on jobseeker's allowance as they are engaging with JobPath. Removing those restrictions would significantly increase the number of participants available to Tús, resulting in a higher number of jobseekers gaining the opportunity to get involved in their local communi…

I had raised an issue.