Is that advisable, given the announcement by the Government today about reducing socialising?

We should be careful on Thursday about the address of the Taoiseach-----

----both for the man himself and the office he holds, but also for us as the Upper House, with regard to the number of people coming into the House, given what has happened today with the changes announced by Government. I ask that the Cathaoirleach and Leader engage not with the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight but with all of us. I would be unhappy that Senators would have to stand at the back wall. It would be unfair to An Taoiseach for us to do that and it would also be unfair from a public h…

Will the Acting Leader facilitate a debate on the future of retail so that our nation might have a new retail strategy? As we all know from observing the cities and towns in our areas, a major challenge is facing retail on the high street with the migration to online shopping. Streets and towns are being hollowed out. The House needs to debate the matter with the Minister of State, Deputy English, who should be praised for his proactivity. We should also acknowledge the considerable work being done by local enterpr…

I join with my colleagues in extending our sympathies to the Currie family and to our colleague and friend, Emer, on the sad passing of Austin Currie. He was a colossus and a leader. When it was unpopular to do so, he took the need for human rights to be upheld to a new level. He built his life around peace and building bridges. He never recoiled from what he stood for but never supported violence. For the sake of his legacy and memory, we should all work to achieve his vision every day of our lives. Ar dheis Dé go…

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit chuig an Teach don díospóireacht tábhachtach seo. Ba mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an gCéim seo den Bhille. Tá dul chun cinn agus úsáid na teanga inár gcroílár. Is í an Ghaeilge céad teanga na tíre agus is gá go mbeadh muid ar fad, an Rialtas ach go háirithe, aireach faoi seo. Tacaím leis na spriocanna atá liostaithe amach sa Bhille: go mbeadh duine as gach cúigear earcach nua sa tseirbhís poiblí líofa sa teanga faoi 2030; go mbeadh 20% den bholscaireachta a dhéanfaidh comhlachta…

I have a great desire for language. I regret that my ability to speak the Irish language has diminished over time. The Minister of State has my full support in progressing this Bill. It is important that those of us charged with the responsibility to promote the use of the language, from a governmental point of view, continue to do so. Let us remember that under the Constitution the Irish language is our first language and the Government has a role to lead with that.

In light of the revelation at this morning's Oireachtas committee meeting that RTÉ, the State broadcaster, has paid out €10.4 million in defamation costs since 2010, I call for a debate on broadcasting. It should be a wide-ranging debate that covers not just this particular aspect but also the matter of the 500 or so workers at RTÉ who are deemed to be either temporary or on contract. That is an issue about which we should all be concerned. In addition, we should look at the licence fee and the role the national br…

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach.

I rise to ask that the Minister for Education come to the House as a matter of urgency. I know we have the Minister for Health coming in this afternoon, but there is a need to have a debate on our response to contact tracing in an educational setting and substitution in schools. I heard Dr. Colm Henry's remark on "Morning Ireland" earlier to the effect that transmission in schools is low. The reality is that the Government reduced, curtailed and stopped contact tracing in educational settings. It should not have do…

I welcome the Minister to the House. I listened to the debate in my office before I in came to speak. I am reminded of the old phrase that you govern in prose and campaign in poetry. It is easy for some Members to come in and make sincere speeches. It is fair to say none of us wants to be here today to support the continuation of the legislation. Senator Black made the most pertinent point of the afternoon when she said we may well be here again in February. We may well be, but our debate needs to be put in context…

A new coalition.

I move: “That Seanad Éireann: recognises: -the planned investment in public transport measures contained in the recent National Development Plan (NDP); -the Programme for Government commitment to increased capital investment in public transport; -the recent budgetary initiative to halve price public transport costs for younger people; -the Government commitment to metropolitan area transport strategies for Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford; -the commitment to an All-Island Strategic Rail Review as part o…

That is terrible.

Once a Progressive Democrat, always a Progressive Democrat.

That is not true.

The Senator should not spread fake news.

We are nearer. The Senator is wrong.

I thank the Minister of State for her reply. As I said earlier, I commend the motion to the House. I was amused by and smiled at my colleague and friend's, Senator McDowell's intervention and contribution. I would remind him to read the transcript of today's transport committee meeting where we had a robust engagement with the National Transport Authority, NTA, and Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII on the delivery of the national development plan. The point I make repeatedly, which I made at the committee today…

I would be happy to give Senator Conway two and a half minutes but I cannot share time. The shift in behaviour is important. Government has strategically laid down this marker by the publication of the national development plan, Bus Connects, Connecting Ireland and the climate action plan tomorrow. I thank my colleagues for the debate tonight in the House. It was very positive. Much of what has been said helps us to move forward together. I am disappointed at one level that Senator Boyhan's amendment is not being a…