Before I call the Leader to outline the business of the day, I welcome the students from Moyle Park College in Clondalkin. They are all very welcome to Leinster House. I hope they have a very good visit and a wonderful day in the Houses of the Oireachtas. I thank them for being here. I call the Leader to outline the Order of Business.

I welcome the President of the Tynwald, which is the parliament of the Isle of Man, the Honourable Laurence Skelly, to our Distinguished Visitors Gallery. He is in Ireland with a delegation from yesterday until tomorrow. The visit is to engage with Oireachtas committees around the areas of reporting, media, tourism, entrepreneurship and transport. It is wonderful that our friends are here from the Isle of Man. Mr. Skelly was here as recently as last summer with the Ceann Comhairle and me at the Speakers of the Isle…

I will address the matter at the end of the Order of Business.

I welcome Mr. Paul Keane, consul general of Sweden, and the delegation to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. You are very welcome to Leinster House today, and I hope you have a very enjoyable and beneficial visit. Céad míle fáilte romhaibh go léir. Anois, an Seanadóir Kyne.

I call Senator Gavan. My apologies for not calling on him in the first round.

I welcome to the Visitors Gallery the family of our colleague and friend, Senator Mary Seery Kearney. I formally and cordially welcome Michael, Leo and Carmel Seery. They are all very welcome to Leinster House. They can be justifiably proud of Mary, who is doing a fine job on their behalf and all our behalf. I thank them for being here and hope they have an enjoyable day. I will not give them homework off but I hope they have a pleasant visit.

I do not wish to interrupt the Senator but we had a debate last week on the referendum.

This is the Order of Business. On what specific issue is the Senator seeking a debate?

The Senator's last comment is not accurate. I will comment at the end of the Order of Business but, to be fair to Ministers, in the main we have seen an increase in the number of Cabinet Ministers here for Commencement matters. I will address it at the end of the Order of Business. It is misinformation.

Senator Byrne is followed by Senator Byrne.

I thank the Senator. Before I call the Leader, I will make a couple of points. I welcome Deputy Sherlock to the Seanad. He is joined by a good friend of all of ours, Mr. Ronan Farren, and Mr. Art O'Neill. They are very welcome. Deputy Brady is also here with a guest. They are all welcome to Leinster House today. Go raibh maith agaibh. The issue of this morning's Commencement matters was addressed during the Order of Business. I will outline to the Members that I, as Cathaoirleach, selected the issue raised by Senat…

Hear, hear.

The Leader might include Cork as well.

I welcome the lady members of Malahide Golf Club to Leinster House. I hope they have a pleasant visit and adjourn to the 19th green here in Leinster House.

Dáil Éireann passed the Gas (Amendment) Bill 2023 on 24 January 2024, to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired. Dáil Éireann passed the Digital Services Bill 2023 on 24 January 2024, to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired.

I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Vincent P. Martin - The need for the Minister for Education to provide an update on the completion of the new school building for Mercy Convent Primary School, Naas, County Kildare. Senator Tim Lombard - The need for the Minister for Education to make a statement on plans to introduce an awareness campaign in primary schools highlighting the dangers of vaping and the use of e-cigarettes. Senator Alice-Mary H…

Before I call on the Leader to announce the business of the day, we will all have been deeply saddened and shocked to hear of the sudden death of our former colleague and friend, a former Member of both the Dáil and the Seanad and of Roscommon County Council, the late John Connor, which Members will have heard about over the weekend. As Members will know, John was involved in a road traffic accident on Saturday and sadly passed away afterwards. A native of County Roscommon, he was an outstanding public servant for …

Míle buíochas. Anois, an Seanadóír Aidan Davitt.

Míle buíochas. Anois, an Seanadóir Aisling Dolan.

I thank the Senator for that lovely tribute.