Are you withdrawing the amendment, Senator Ward?

Senator Ward is withdrawing the amendment.

Is Senator McDowell opposing the withdrawal of the amendment?

Do you have a seconder for that?

Senator Ward, seconded by Senator Gallagher, has proposed that the amendment be withdrawn.

We have an hour to go. That will happen at 4.30 p.m.

Gabh mo leithscéal.

I welcome the Clonakilty Men's Shed group to the Gallery. Its members are here with Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan.

I thank the Senator for his brevity.

It was Senator Boyhan's amendment.

It was a good debate. Senator Sherlock is correct.

One voice please. Senator Boyhan has possession. The Senator to continue without interruption, please.

I join all Members in welcoming the officials from SIPTU. I thank them and their colleagues for the work they do every day on our behalf. Please convey our thanks to your colleagues as well.

Fáite romhaibh ar ais, a chairde.  Athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh go léir. I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters:Senator John McGahon - The need for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to make a statement on the work permit application process.Senator Marie Sherlock - The need for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to make a statement on the timeline for the transposition of the adequate minimum wage directive.Senator Michael …

Before I call on Senator McGahon, as Cathaoirleach and on behalf of the Members, I welcome on his first visit as the newly appointed Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, our former colleague and friend, Deputy Neale Richmond, who was formerly Senator Richmond. He is very welcome to Seanad Éireann and I congratulate him on his appointment and wish him, on behalf of myself and Members of the House, every success in his new role. Go raibh maith agat.

Cuirim fáilte roimh na Seanadóirí ar ais. Guím athbhliain faoi mhaise dóibh go léir. I also welcome to the Gallery, Councillor Karen Coakley. On her first official duty, I call on the Leader to outline the Order of Business for today.

I thank Senator Craughwell. On behalf of the House, I welcome Battalion Quartermaster Sergeant John O'Brien and his partner, Orla Kettle, to the House. As we did at our final sitting before Christmas, we remember Private Seán Rooney and send our best wishes to Private Shane Carney. We thank them. We welcome Mr. O'Brien and thank him for his service. We hope that he and his colleagues remember that we are very grateful for what they do on our behalf both at home and overseas.

I thank the Senator for her contribution and her extraordinary work on this particular matter. While not aiming to strike a discordant note, as I explained in my communication to the Senator, this is predominantly a matter of scheduling. The Minister is not answerable to the House in respect of his schedule. The committees and the Houses of the Oireachtas set their own work programmes. I am happy to talk to the Senator further to see how we can progress the matter she has raised rather than having a discordant deba…

I appreciate that. We can talk again.

We can talk about it further.