On prevailing side: this member voted with the winning side in 440 of 443 decisive votes (0 abstentions excluded). Read it as a government-or-opposition indicator rather than a measure of influence — the figure is near 100% for members supporting the government of the day and near 0% for those opposing it.
This is the point of the site: contributions keep the party held on the day, not the one held now.
| Party | Recorded as | Contributions | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| CC | Ceann Comhairle / Chair | 2,606 | 2020-07-30 – 2022-12-12 |
| FG | Fine Gael | 405 | 2020-01-21 – 2026-07-08 |
Membership spells on record: FG 1989-10-01–1992-12-17 · FG 2007-07-23–2011-04-25 · FG 2011-02-25–2016-03-09 · FG 2016-03-10–2020-03-29 · FG 2020-03-30–2025-01-29 · FG 2025-01-29–present
It is my great pleasure to once again congratulate and welcome Senator Horkan, who has been a good colleague and friend of everyone in this House. It is great to have him back among us.
Even before the new suit arrives the Senator is quite sartorially elegant.
We wish Senator Cummins well at that meeting. It is very important infrastructure for the south east.
There is a proposed amendment to the Order of Business to introduce a Bill. Senator Dooley has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business: "That No. 12 on the Order Paper be taken before No. 2." This has been seconded by Senator McGreehan. The Leader has indicated she is prepared to accept this amendment. Is the amendment agreed? Agreed.
When is it proposed to take Second Stage?
Is that agreed? Agreed.
I thank all members for their co-operation on the Order of Business. Although it is not a function of the Chair to normally do this, as a person from the Border region, I wish to endorse the words of Senator McDowell and the Leader regarding Arlene Foster.
We would have had to rule him out of order.
We are discussing section 1.
I would gently draw the Senator back to section 1.
I appreciate that.
Ar dtús báire gabhaim comhghairdeas agus gach dea-ghuí leis na Seanadóirí nua-tofa. I congratulate the two re-elected Senators, who are both close personal friends of mine for many a day. It is incumbent on all of us, as well as being a pleasure, to try to build good interpersonal relationships north of the Border and, indeed, on an east-west basis. This needs to happen at ground level with people mixing across the Border in a very normal way. To achieve this, I believe that we should build in a condition to many o…
I thank my colleague. I apologise as I made a mistake and believed we were starting at 4 p.m. I thank the Leader for scheduling this debate, which I have called for three times. Let us establish first what we are not talking about. We are not talking about the 64% of the population who have the occasional flutter, buy a weekly lottery ticket or play bingo; we are talking about the more than 29% who gamble in a problem way, defined as gambling to a level that compromises, disrupts or damages family, personal or recr…
I thank Senator O’Reilly. Our next speaker is Senator Gavan and my understanding is that he proposes to share time.
The Senator will be sharing with Senator Boylan. Is that agreed? Agreed.
I remind Members that it is important that in their contributions, however passionate and emotional, that they do name any individuals outside the House as per Standing Orders. I call Senator Seery Kearney and I understand that she wishes to share her time equally with her colleague, Senator Buttimer. Is that agreed? Agreed.
It is a political point.
Senator Buttimer without interruption.
Is that agreed? Agreed.
I thank the Senator for allowing the Minister of State the time to respond. I point out that as a number of speakers did not show up. For want of speakers, the debate finishes now. It would have gone on to another day had there been other speakers. I want to make that clear because there is an expectation abroad that there will be another day. The fact that there are no other speakers offering is why there cannot be, as per the rules of the House. I call the Minister of State.