I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell.

Before I call Senator Joe O'Reilly, it is my great pleasure, as Cathaoirleach, to issue a céad míle fáilte roimh na cuairteoirí as na Stáit Aontaithe mar inniu táimid ag ceiliúradh an óráid speisialta a thug an t-iarUachtarán Seán Mac Gearailt Ó Cinnéide i dTeach Laighean. Today is a very special day in Leinster House. We are commemorating the 60th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's address to the joint Houses of the Oireachtas. I am pleased, as Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann, to welcome members of the Ken…

I should explain to our guests that we are dealing with Commencement matters. Senator Joe O'Reilly is from County Cavan and is raising a matter regarding a particular school in his area and district. As Tip O'Neill famously said, all politics is local and this is an example of it. Senator O'Reilly is a fine public representative.

Before our guests leave, I should have pointed out that the window behind me is the projecting bow window that James Hoban replicated in the White House. As our guests leave, they can see that. It is another example of the links between us. That is another one for Mr. McLaurin's White House Historical Association.

I ask the Acting Leader to outline the Order of Business for today.

I welcome the students from Le Chéile Educate Together National School in Drogheda, County Louth. They are very welcome. I know there is no point in giving them time off from homework because they are in the last day of school, but perhaps when they come back on the first day of the next term their new teacher might let them off some homework. From the United States of America, I also welcome the guests of Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh. They are very welcome. I have not got their names but they are here on an auspicious…

If no other Member is offering, I call the Acting Leader, Senator Fiona O'Loughlin, to reply.

It is the shortest I have seen anyway.

If it is okay and in order, I might actually take Senator Clonan.

The Senator was here, so I will call him.

I thank the Senator.

The Taoiseach was not in Cork last Thursday, just to clarify.

The Taoiseach was not in Cork. It was the Tánaiste.

It is just in the interests of accuracy-----

-----and to avoid giving false information.

I wish to give context. I hate to interrupt the Senator and in fairness she is entitled to speak but the Senator must understand that the Tánaiste was being interrupted by people as he was speaking at that event. The Senator should give a fair context and balance as well.

I do not believe the Senator did. I stand corrected. I am not trying to put the Senator off speaking but making the point that we should be fair in our summation of the event that took place last Thursday in Cork.

As he was speaking, he was being interrupted. The Senator should be fair in that as well. The floor is hers.

I gave the Senator more time because I interrupted her.

I invite the Acting Leader to reply.