I welcome the Minister of State and thank him for being here. As he said, it is important we get this Bill passed. It is critically important to our businesses, economy and people. It is about the protection of jobs, ensuring our economy and businesses have access to credit and I welcome the Minister of State's speech and contribution. It is extraordinary in that little did we think we would be in the middle of an immoral and wrong war or a cost-of-living and energy crisis as we emerged from Covid and, I suppose, a…

Tomorrow.

I move that the House suspend until 4.30 p.m.

Well said.

Senator McDowell was with the Progressive Democrats in government.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, and commend him on the work he is doing in the Department, especially in the area of insurance. It is proving beneficial to hard-pressed members of the public. Part of me does not want to respond to Senator Gavan's contribution. As fond as I am of him, sometimes I think I am listening to Donald Trump. I know Trump is furthest from Senator Gavan's thoughts but there is a dystopian view that we live in a failed state, and we do not. Senator Gavan said facts are importa…

There are 2.5 million people at work.

Incomes up.

Incomes up. Income tax down. Sick pay, paternity leave, parental leave, more affordable childcare, and-----

-----medical cards for children with severe disabilities and terminal illnesses. The minimum wage has been increased nine times. There was the tips Bill. Facts are facts. The point Senator Gavan never makes, because the voodoo economists in Sinn Féin do not want to hear it, is that an average couple earning €40,000 are €2,000 better off under this Government's proposal than under the economic gobbledygook of Sinn Féin.

The bottom line-----

Facts are facts. In quarter 3 of this year, 83,200 jobs were created in this country, with 59,700 being outside Dublin. There are 2.5 million people at work. I am not sure what failed state has 2.5 million people at work or creates the number of jobs ours does. I will accept the points Senator Gavan heckled me with about the issues and challenges around housing. I fully subscribe to the fact that the Government has put forward the highest spend on housing in a budget in the history of the State. I think 150,000 hou…

I know the Senator would say that because, in fairness, that is what he is going to say. It is the single transferable speech that he and his colleagues are given. This Finance Bill is about putting money back into people's pockets with a fairer income tax package for everybody. That is the fundamental point. On Committee Stage, we will look at different sections of the Bill. I wish to raise a few points on the hospitality sector in the time available to me. Today the Cork branch of the Irish Hotels Federation, IHF…

Without meaning to strike a note discordant with the Cathaoirleach's remarks, I concur with Senator Horkan. As a long-standing Member of the House, I believe it is important that we do not lose the tradition of bringing the families of deceased Members to the House. We should not lose that. I am very strong on that point. I appreciate that the Covid pandemic interfered with proceedings but there are Members for whom we have not done that. I hope that, in the new year, the House will bring family members in to celeb…

In light of the vote in the Lower House, I propose that we suspend the sitting for 15 minutes if that is agreeable.

I join with the Cathaoirleach in welcoming Senator Boyhan’s visitors to the Gallery from Claremont. I congratulate State Representative Carey and his good wife Melissa on their magnificent wedding and I congratulate him on his re-election as a state representative of Massachusetts. I stand today to ask us all to reflect upon the events of the past four days. Five people were killed in a nightclub in Colorado last Saturday night on a night out in a space where, for many of us as gay people, it is our place of sanctu…

An armband that symbolises not a political statement or political comment, but acceptance, inclusivity and diversity. FIFA, the governing body of one of the biggest sporting organisations in the world, lacks leadership and courage. It is disgusting, appalling and unacceptable. I do not get pretty emotional about things in this Chamber but what are we saying when an American journalist is for 25 minutes stopped from going into the stadium because he wore a rainbow or LGBT t-shirt? The former captain of the Welsh soc…

I, too, welcome the students to the Gallery. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, for being here. I appreciate that the matter I raise is not his area of responsibility. I raise the issue of special school liaison teachers through the prism of the pupils, families and staff in St. Paul’s Special School in Montenotte in Cork. I have been engaging with its principal, Anne Hartnett, as I have been with other schools, on the non-sanctioning of posts of home school liaison officer. These schools have made requ…

I thank the Minister of State for his response. In the context of the reply, it is disappointing that there are no plans to extend the home school liaison post. The Minister of State with responsibility for this area, Deputy Madigan, has been very proactive in her role, to give her credit. However, there is a real and urgent need in our special schools. As we all know, there are challenging behaviours, different family circumstances and a need for myriad supports to be put in place. This post, while not a panacea, …

I want to be associated with the votes of sympathy to Bridget Doody and her family on the passing of her late brother. It is a difficult time for their family. I rise to support Senator Seery Kearney on her contribution during Commencement matters. It is something I would ask the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight to look at. I respect the Leas-Chathaoirleach's opening remarks that the Cathaoirleach has no role in it but it is our engagement given that we have no parliamentary questions as Members …