What is the reason for-----

Sorry. I would like clarification on why we are changing from a full-term to a fixed-term contract.

No problem.

On the amendment, I would like to hear the Minister of State explain the rationale behind this. Why is it being proposed to switch from a full-time position until retirement, effectively, to a five-year term? Senator Ward does not have an issue with reviewing people's position and that is fair enough. The fear is some people at the moment are doing their job well and unless something goes wrong or they are called in for improper behaviour or some such, they would be there until retirement, whereas a five-year term,…

Will the Minister of State respond to the point I made about the rationale behind going from permanent employment to fixed-term contracts?

I welcome that. I acknowledge that the Minister is not here due to a sad personal circumstance. I am sorry to hear that. After the conclusion of the Bill in this House and before it gets to the Dáil, and notwithstanding the pressure of the Dublin situation in the middle of this month, it would be helpful and important if there would be some engagement by the Department with the Coroners Society of Ireland and its representatives. It feels a bit left out of the loop for whatever reason. I think it would be helpful f…

Now.

Now.

I thank the Acting Chair for expediting this Bill, which is important because the deadline is looming. I thank, in particular, the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond. While he is a capable Minister of State, he is not normally a Minister of State in the Department of Justice. He may not be as familiar with this legislation as others and he has done a good job to steer it through the House today. I thank him for stepping in on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McEntee. I reiterate that it is important to deal with the …

Based on the time we have left and the number of speakers, not everybody will get in. I am counting Senator Higgins in already. If everyone takes a minute off, everybody will get in, but if everyone goes for six minutes they will not. Is it agreed we cut their speaking time to five minutes for everyone else? Agreed. I now call Senator Lombard, followed by Senators Malcolm Byrne, Kyne, Doherty, Higgins, Cummins and McDowell. Senator Lombard does not need to use the five minutes; if he can say it in three, that is gr…

Our next contributor is Senator Regina Doherty who has five minutes.

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

I have up to ten minutes. As I say when I am in the Chair, consider it a maximum, not a target. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, for being in the House once again. I appreciate that this is a very technical Bill. However, we also appreciate the incredibly valuable work the coroner does and we are talking, too, in terms of the fact the senior coroner for Dublin is currently hearing the Stardust inquest. We are 40 years on from that at this stage and it is still an awful tragedy that affects so many fami…

Next Thursday.

I welcome the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, back to the House once again. Before Committee Stage commences, I would like to deal with a procedural matter relating to Bills to amend the Constitution. The substance of the debate on Committee Stage relates to the wording of the proposed constitutional amendment, which is contained in the Schedule to the Bill. The sections of the Bill are merely technical. Therefore, in accordance with long-standing practice, the sections are postponed until consideration of the Schedule …

Amendment No. 2, in the name of Senator Clonan. Amendments Nos. 2 to 16, inclusive, are related. Amendments Nos. 3 to 16, inclusive, are physical alternatives to amendment No. 2. Amendments Nos. 2 to 16, inclusive, may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Will Senator Clonan speak to the grouping of amendments Nos. 2 to 16, inclusive, as much or as little as he wants to? He obviously wants to speak to amendment No. 2. but he can speak to amendments Nos. 2 to 16 inasmuch as he wants.

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, back to the House. The debate will follow the normal pattern. The Minister will have six minutes, and all Senators will have six minutes. The Minister will be given no less than five minutes to reply.

As the Minister has said, while it is a routine procedure, it is important that An Post has sufficient moneys to pay in a timely fashion at the start of next year the State pensions, children's allowance and other benefits it pays out. It was a comprehensive opening statement, and I am sure none of our Senators is going to repeat everything the Minister said, but will welcome the Bill in their own way. Senator Davitt has six minutes, but as I often say on this one, that is a maximum rather than a target.

You can try.