-----given that we passed the motion unanimously last year. There was such strong goodwill towards the motion and the then Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, spoke strongly in support of it, as Senator Norris will recall. I agree with the Senator that six months would be better and I share his impatience.

It is important that we move forward in a united fashion to ensure the important provisions in the Bill are implemented. In that regard and as others have done, I pay special tribute to Les Martin, his partner, Lynda, and their children, Holly, Cathal and Ciaran, who have been tireless in campaigning for the expansion of the newborn screening programme. Others have referred to their heartbreaking story of having two sons battling with a rare condition. I mention the immense and positive work they have done, not jus…

The Minister of State is very welcome to the House. It is a pleasure to have a Minister of State appointed from the Seanad. I have listened with great interest to the debate. I do not wish to prolong matters this late in the evening, and my colleague, Senator Hoey, has admirably put forward the Labour position on the Bill. Looking at this very substantive group of amendments, and in particular the amendments Senator Higgins debated, amendment No. 57 and related amendments, it illustrates how unfortunate it is that …

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to the House and congratulate her on her appointment. I wish her the very best in this important post. I am glad to be speaking in my capacity as Labour Party spokesperson on children, disability, equality and integration and, in that regard, to ask the Minister for Health or the Minister of State to make a statement to the House on the provision of nursing care plans for children with complex needs to enable them to participate in education and to commit to the pro…

I thank the Minister of State for her response. I greatly appreciate her efforts on behalf of the child in the case I have raised with her and I look forward to engaging with her further on that individual case. I stress that the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, has clearly told me it is not within her brief, and that it is a matter for the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, or the Department of Health, so I will engage with Deputy Rabbitte on that. The Minister of State's answer raises a much broader concern ab…

Today is the first United Nations international equal pay day and I ask the Leader for a debate on legislation to close the gender pay gap. This House passed legislation that I and the Labour Party group initiated previously but unfortunately it seems to have run into the ground. I would like a debate on it. I echo the words of Senator Sherlock in welcoming the decision by the Minister and the Government to bring in unaccompanied children from the Moria camp. We need to do more and show more generosity in this rega…

I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate her on her new role. This is the first time Members of this House have had the pleasure of addressing her since her appointment. I have no issue with these technical amendments. Indeed, the Bill is largely technical in nature. I appreciate that the Minister of State has accepted an amendment I tabled on Committee Stage in late 2019, which seems like another era, to give recognition to the category of pharmaceutical assistants. That amendment is to section 53. There a…

My colleague's amendment No. 7 will create a new section 29.

I thank the Minister of State for her generous and kind words. It is always lovely to see someone with a Waterford connection in this Chamber, as I have one myself. I am grateful to her for passing that message on to the Minister. Committee Stage of this Bill was held on 18 December 2019, which is when we debated and agreed the amendment. I will not take up the time of the House any further but I wish to express my gratitude to the Minister and Minister of State. I thank the Minister in particular for sending me a …

I wish to join others in thanking the Minister of State for getting this Bill through at such a difficult time for all of us, particularly for those in the Department of Health and front-line healthcare workers. Although it is largely technical it is good to see this Bill passed. I am particularly pleased for pharmaceutical assistants to have the recognition that section 53 will provide.

I would like to speak about the Order of Business. I suggest, with the greatest of respect, that the Cathaoirleach might stop digging and stop dominating the Order of Business. He has spoken, with respect, more than anyone else this morning on the Order of Business.

I did not interrupt anyone. I have not made any points of order. I simply want to set out my position and that of the Labour Party - I believe it is a fair and reasonable one - on the Order of Business. First, it is disingenuous to suggest that either Opposition Senators or any other Senators have some sort of obligation to recall the House. As someone who did seek to recall the House, the Senator will know it is a power that is available, but it is not used lightly and is used rarely. In fairness, when we knew tha…

I thank the Cathaoileach for the clarification. I propose an amendment to remove Committee and Remaining Stages.

On a point of order, I am happy with that proposal from Senator Higgins.

To be helpful, in order that we avoid having two divisions, I am happy to amend my original amendment so that there is only one amendment before the House, that is, to adjourn Report and Final Stages of the Bill from today.

I will withdraw that in the interests of Senator Higgins's amendment.

I thank my colleague, Senator Gavan, for giving way as I have to be at the meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. I welcome the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to the House. I reiterate the concerns, as raised by others already, about the timeframe within which we debate this legislation. It is most unfortunate that we are taking all Stages of this important Bill just in one day. I made this point earlier on the Order of Business. It is also unfortunate that the debate coincides with our meeting of the Com…

I move amendment No. 2: In page 5, to delete line 14. I welcome the Minister of State to the House and I thank the Minister, Deputy McEntee, for the full response in her closing remarks to some of the points I had raised in my Second Stage speech. The issue on which I spoke most on Second Stage was the lack of clarity on the distinction between penal provisions and guidelines that are not enforceable through the criminal law. Amendment No. 2 speaks to that point. It seeks to amend section 3, specifically section 3(…

I apologise as I should have congratulated the Minister of State on his recent appointment during my first intervention on Committee Stage. I am delighted to see him in here with us. I have listened to the extensive debate on my amendment and I thank colleagues who intervened in support, namely, Senators Higgins and McDowell. I listened also to Senator Ward and the Minister of State but still do not see the need for the inclusion of the phrase "whether in relation to a relevant provision or otherwise". I accept tha…

I still have not heard enough of a rationale from the Minister of State, so I will press the amendment.