Thank you, Senator Horkan. Indeed, on behalf of the House, thank you for your excellent temporary chairpersonship of the Seanad the other day.

The community whence Senator Keogan and I come has been blighted by a number of tragic deaths of young people by suicide recently, so Senator Byrne raises a very important point.

At this juncture, it would be appropriate to welcome the young people to the Gallery. The future is yours, so it is good that you are here to listen. You have come in at a very apt moment because I now invite the Leader to respond to the issues raised. There were a large number of issues raised, and I think the Leader's mental agility will be well tested today.

I thank the Leader for the response. I need have had no concerns. Earlier, with the Leader, I welcomed some young people to the Gallery. I have been informed by Senator Horkan they are from Moyne Community School and are accompanied by Deputy Joe Flaherty. They are very welcome. They are my neighbours. I served in local government in Cavan with the school principal. If it is not the current principal it was the former principal but I believe it is the current principal.

I just heard my good friend and colleague mentioning Kinsale. It is a very beautiful town, as is all of Cork. I had the privilege of visiting it last week and the visit was enhanced by meeting Senator Lombard there. I have received notice from Senator Fiona O'Loughlin that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, she proposes to raise the following matter: The need for Minister of State with responsibility for special education and inclusion to provide an update on the provision of secondary school p…

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Malcolm Noonan, to the House once again.

I will wait until I am on the floor some day to speak more, but I made a number of proposals about leaving certificate reform and, thankfully, some of them are being used.

Senator Byrne, without interruption.

I call Senator Craughwell, who is waiting patiently.

I thank the Senator. That is a good news story.

I thank the Senator. He had more time, if he had needed it.

I thank the Government chief whip. I now invite the Deputy Leader to respond to the Order of Business.

I thank Senator Chambers for her acknowledgement of my input to the leaving certificate reform debate. I also wish to associate myself with her remarks and those of Senator Ó Donnghaile about the dreadful incident in Belfast in which the Minister for Foreign Affairs was centrally involved. I agree with both of them and it does not merit elaboration.

I apologise for interrupting Senator Conway. The Minister of State has graciously agreed to concede some time to Senator Lombard so I want to him an opportunity to speak for two or three minutes.

I thank Senator Lombard for speaking so succinctly in the few minutes he had. That is the mastery of the material he has. People who have such a mastery can say everything in a minute or two. It is my pleasure to welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon. While I was not in a position to go and listen to him when he was near my home the other night, it will be a pleasure to hear him now. I ask him to complete his response by around 6 p.m. in order that Senator Seery Kearney can respond to the entire debate.

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon, for that comprehensive and empathic response to an important debate. I call Senator Seery Kearney and congratulate her on the hard work she has put in to preparing for this motion.

When is it proposed to sit again?

I have received notice from Senator Fiona O'Loughlin that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, she proposes to raise the following matter: The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the current shortage of pharmacists. I have also received notice from Senator Paul Gavan of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to make a statement on the war in Yemen. I have also received notice from Senator Jerry Buttimer of the following matter: The need for the Min…

Before we come to the Order of Business, on behalf of the Cathaoirleach and all Members, I wish to recognise the national day of Greece. I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery, the deputy ambassador of Greece to Ireland, Ms Polina Chotzoglou, who is representing the ambassador, who sadly has a family bereavement and cannot be with us. We are grateful to the people and country of Greece for their contribution to the world, not only for giving us the meaning and idea of democracy but also for the very word i…

I thank Senator Craughwell for that pertinent contribution.