I want to recognise my colleagues. Senator Blaney has had a deep commitment to Northern Ireland and Senator McGahon, has equally pointed out the things that he sees that need to be done. Senator Martin made a point about representation for Northern Ireland in Europe, which would be a massive step forward by the Republic if it looked for it, albeit that representative would have to be elected to a constituency in the South. That would be an amazing step forward. I cannot speak without mentioning Senator Black. Her w…

The Acting Leader will have some interest in what I have to say because it concerns the Defence Forces. The Tánaiste and then Taoiseach was flown to Europe in a PC-12 aircraft because the Learjet aircraft, which is 20 years old, is on the ground in need of repair. While he was out there, the PC-12 developed problems and he could not fly back. He was left stranded in Brussels because the aircraft was not available. Last week at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, the Tánaiste expressed his frustratio…

Give them tomorrow night's off as well.

Is the Senator allowed extra time because he is a member of Fine Gael?

These Cork spats in the House are very unseemly. My colleague Senator Warfield spoke about Ursula von der Leyen and what she had to say and what she did not have to say. We have a situation where our President, Michael D. Higgins, goes to-----

Stick with me here now.

He goes to Rome-----

I have to put on my headphones now because I have to hear you.

Michael D. Higgins goes to Rome and he does exactly what Ursula von der Leyen did.

He makes a statement without, I understand, having run it past the Government or the Council of State.

I hope the clock has stopped.

No, there is a question here.

Excuse me. There is a question here. We have a Constitution in this country.

I fully accept that the President is not answerable to this House. However------

Shall I just read a paragraph here, which is nothing to offend anybody? Article 13.11 of the Constitution states: No power or function conferred on the President by law shall be exercisable or performable by him save only on the advice of the Government. I want to know if the President had the advice of the Government before he went and did what he accused Ursula von der Leyen of doing.

At the end of the day, we have a Constitution. We either live by it or we do not. You cannot select from it piecemeal. It is not an à la carte menu.

You took half my time.

My final comment is that we have one spokesperson on foreign affairs in this country, and that is the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs. Nobody else can state Irish policy anywhere.

I have a copy here in my pocket.

All of it.