Is that agreed? Agreed.

I remind Senators that, at the request of Senator Emer Currie, Mr. Kazumi Matsui, Mayor of Hiroshima, will address the Seanad at 1 p.m. I encourage as many Members as possible to be here.

In accordance with the Order of the Seanad of 17 October, I remind Members that the proceedings are to conclude by 2 p.m. I welcome the mayor to the Chamber. Ar an gcéad dul síos, cuirim fíorfháilte roimh an Méara, an tUasal Kazumi Matsui, ó gach Comhalta de chuid Sheanad Éireann. Mr. Matsui, good afternoon and welcome to this sitting of Seanad Éireann on the occasion of your visit. I thank our colleague, Senator Emer Currie, for proposing this address. I also welcome to the Distinguished Visitors' Gallery our frie…

I should have said that Senator Byrne is a member of the Fianna Fáil Party, which is one of the Government parties. The next speaker is Senator Emer Currie, who issued the invitation to the mayor on behalf of the Seanad and was part of the parliamentary delegation, with the Ceann Comhairle and our colleague, Senator Paul Daly, that visited Japan in February of last year.

The next speaker is Senator Gerard Craughwell from the Independent Group.

I thank the Senator.

Not usually, in fairness.

Time is up.

I welcome to the Public Gallery Deputy Jim O'Callaghan and his son Luke. Céad míle fáilte. I neglected to mention earlier Deputy Grealish and his group from Oranmore who are here this afternoon. Is é an chéad chainteoir eile ná an Seanadóir Gavan. Tá cúig nóiméad aige.

I thank the mayor. Before I call on the Leas-Chathaoirleach, I thank the ambassador for the first poster exhibition in St. Angela's College, Cork, on 25 November on the devastating effects of the bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I thank the ambassador for working with the former Minister, Deputy Coveney, for bringing that exhibition to St. Angela's College, Cork. I now call the Leas-Chathaoirleach of the Seanad, Senator Mark Daly.

I thank the mayor, Mr. Matsui, and all of his delegation for being here. I thank the Members of Seanad Éireann for their thoughtful contributions. I ask the mayor to communicate and tell the people of his great city that we are with them and will work together to bring peace and reconciliation on our island and on the world stage. We will work together to ensure the threat of nuclear weapons will be diminished for all time. I thank him again. I hope he enjoys the rest of his visit to Ireland, and we wish him every …

Will the Senators claiming a division please rise?

As fewer than five Members have risen I declare the question carried. In accordance with Standing Order 61, the names of the Senators dissenting will be recorded in the Journal of the Proceedings of the Seanad.

When is it proposed to sit again?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Aisling Dolan - The need for the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan and the demand for new services in the Galway and Roscommon areas. Senator Marie Sherlock - The need for the Minister for Transport to make a statement on the anomaly in treatment of taxis registered in 2014 that were granted a licence extension to 2027, and taxis registered in 2015 that…

Before I call on the first speaker it gives me great pleasure to welcome to the Gallery the family of our colleague and friend, Senator Shane Cassells. I welcome his wife, Fiona, his daughter, CJ, and his sons, Noah and Bobby. I welcome them most sincerely to Leinster House. I thank them for the sacrifice that they have made in giving us their dad, who has been a wonderful public servant to the people of Meath. Sadly for his family, he has become a great friend of mine. He will be a big loss to us here in Leinster …

Before I call on the first speaker, on behalf of the Members of the House, I welcome a delegation from the United States from the great state and city of New York, who join us in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. You are very welcome and I thank you for being here and for the work you are doing on both sides of the island of Ireland. Earlier today, I had the pleasure of meeting Congressman Tim Kennedy, from the wonderful city of Buffalo, who is an extraordinary friend to all of us in the Oireachtas. I also welcom…

Senator Craughwell is jumping through many electoral hoops with that conversation piece.

I thank Senator Keogan for that. As nobody else is offering, glaoim ar an Treoraí chun freagra a thabhairt don Ord Gnó.