On a point of order-----

I do not want to have a row on the Order of Business today but I would just make this point to Senator Keogan. The Minister for Health is not signing away sovereignty. He is not doing any of that, as the Cathaoirleach knows. This is important. Words matter.

I am sorry but I want to make this point, with respect. I am a good man for the heckling and I am a good man for raising the political gallop, but our words in this Chamber, and in these Houses of the Oireachtas, matter. The Cathaoirleach, as the presiding officer, has a duty not just to us, as Members, but to the people watching with regard to the false information being given by certain Members. I am making this point deliberately about false information. The Minister for Health is not signing away our sovereignt…

I am being respectful.

May I pose a question? Does the Cathaoirleach actually believe the Minister for Health is signing away our sovereignty? The Cathaoirleach knows that he is not.

We should not allow these untruths to be perpetrated in this Chamber. That is the point I am making.

It is a debating Chamber based upon fact. I could make the point that that Cathaoirleach's tie is green when it is not.

As a matter of fairness-----

We need to call out untruths.

Yes, but they are not entitled to say the Minister for Health is signing away our sovereignty when the Cathaoirleach knows-----

The Cathaoirleach is an avid institutionalist. He knows the Minister is not doing that.

But the Cathaoirleach knows he is not.

As today is World Health Day, I commend all those who work in our health system and thank them for their dedication, and I call for another debate on health in the coming weeks. Like Senator Kyne, I call for a debate on the cost of living. According to the figures released today, inflation is at its highest level in 22 years after jumping to 6.7% from 5.6%. That is a staggering figure. A debate on the cost of living is urgent because, notwithstanding the immense work that the Government has done through mitigation …

I commend you, a Chathaoirligh, on your speech this morning in the Lower House. It will come as no surprise that I am again raising the secondment of Dr. Tony Holohan, the Chief Medical Officer, to the public health professorship in Trinity College Dublin. This morning, the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, said on "Morning Ireland" that he did not sign off on it. Last night, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, said he was not involved. He said it was unusual. Yesterday, the …

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, for being here again. This is actually a positive day. I know the Minister of State will interpret my remarks as I intend them to be interpreted. They concern community service and disability, in the context of which we are here today. Everything we have been doing is under the framework contained in Disability Action Plan Framework: Review of Disability Social Care Demand and Capacity Requirements to 2032. There are a couple of points I want to make. I fully support …

I am sorry. I have a lot more to say but I will let the Minister of State respond. It is important that she do so. I will email her my script. Gabh mo leithscéal as I did not realise the time arrangement.

I welcome the Minister to the House and thank him for his contribution and work. I thank all involved in the Covid-19 response. There are key points that I wish to make on Covid-19 today. We were premature in getting rid of the mask mandate. Our vaccination programme worked without it being mandatory so we must have a real incentive for the vaccine booster programme. It is important that the replacement for the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, can be put in place as a matter of urgency to give the Mini…

Seriously.

Ar mo shon féin agus ar son Pháirtí Fhine Gael, déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Seanadóir nua, Tom Clonan. Cuirim fíorfháilte roimh a bhean chéile, Aideen, a chlann agus a chairde agus déanaim comhghairdeas leo. Is lá iontach, lá ceiliúrtha agus lá bródúil é seo. Cuirim fíorfháilte roimh an Seanadóir. On my behalf and that of the Fine Gael Party, I congratulate our new Senator, Tom Clonan, and welcome him here. I pay tribute to him on his victory in the Seanad by-election and congratulate all the candidates on a comp…

Hear, hear.