Thank you very much.

It has already been welcomed.

There was always an intellectual and academic ambience there anyway. We will move on.

I would just point out to the Senator that the motion in question involves referring the matter to the relevant committee.

I am very happy to join the Senator in congratulating Denn, which a very fine club and a fine team.

Aontaím leis an Seanadóir faoi TnaG. Gabhaim mo chomhghairdeas féin, agus breithlá sona, dóibh. Tá siad ag déanamh sár-jab agus tá jab iontach déanta acu ar feadh na mblianta.

I thank Senator Conway.

Leaving the good wine until last, I call Senator Boyhan.

The Senator's patience was rewarded with a bit of bonus time, which was reasonable given that he had a very long wait.

I thank all colleagues for their co-operation in getting through the Order of Business in a way that we can now take on the next crucial session with our MEPs. I appeal to people to stay here and for those who are in their offices to come to this session, which very much reflects our concern to link to Europe and to Seanad reform.

I welcome my colleagues and our MEPs to the Chamber for this important session. I consider this an extremely important session in that the linkage between the Seanad and the European Parliament is a vital one given that so many European directives and regulations impact on Irish law and life. It has been quantified in the past - I do not know by what methodology - that the impact is about 70%. The impact of European law in this country is significant and the European Court of Justice takes precedence. The link betw…

I thank Barry Andrews, MEP, for raising an interesting range of questions around the SDGs and for his reference to the protocol. I now invite Ciarán Cuffe, MEP, to address us. When he told us a little about himself, he modestly omitted that he has an extraordinarily gifted academic career, which I came across. It is worthy of merit. It includes a masters degree of science in cities, a masters degree in regional and urban planning, a research scholarship and a bachelor's degree in architecture from UCD. He has had a…

Mr. Cuffe finished on the great contemporary challenge and presented it in positive terms, in that it can affect a good and new lifestyle for us all. It is now my great pleasure to move on to Clare Daly, MEP, who is a distinguished former Member of the Dáil here. Ms Daly is a former airport worker and shop steward. She was a county councillor for many years, and all of us in this assembly know county councillors very well. She was twice elected to the Dáil from the Dublin Fingal constituency where she had a high pr…

I thank Ms Daly for her remarks. We share her concerns about Poland, Hungary, etc., as will emerge later in questions. Our next speaker is Frances Fitzgerald, MEP. She is familiar with this Chamber as a former Leader of the Seanad. I had the great pleasure of serving with Ms Fitzgerald in the Seanad some years ago. She is now an MEP for Dublin city and county and the vice-president of the EPP group in the European Parliament. Prior to her election to the European Parliament, she served as a Fine Gael parliamentaria…

I thank Ms Frances Fitzgerald, MEP. That will give rise to a number of themes, very notably the degree to which Covid-19 has set back women's rights in a big way internationally, and that question needs addressing. It has had a huge impact on the education of women in a number of areas of the world, and on a number of other factors. The first part of the dialogue was our MEPs speaking, and that was certainly very engaging and worth hearing. A huge number of very real themes and important linkages emerged. The next …

Senator Horkan's reference to this important, radical and vital departure gives me a cue. It would be remiss of me to let the evening pass without acknowledging that the Cathaoirleach, who is away on business today, has been very proactive and has led in creating this initiative, working it up and taking it right through. He has been in touch with MEPs and has played a vital role in this. Without him, this would not be the success it is. It would be churlish to allow the day to pass and not acknowledge that. I am g…

Senator Boylan, a distinguished former MEP, will speak on behalf of Sinn Féin.

Of course. That is acceptable.

Senator Warfield is on the list for later. Does he still wish to speak now?

This is not part of the Senator's time; do not worry.