I am delighted to welcome my friend and colleague, the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, to her own Chamber.

I welcome my good friend and colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, to the House, of which he is a former Member. I am delighted he is back here in his ministerial capacity at the Department of Health. I was happy to have heard in recent days the good tidings that a gambling regulation Bill and the establishment of a gambling regulator may be imminent. I have advocated very strongly, with others, for such measures for a long time. It is good news and it will deal with an important facet of the gambling p…

I thank the Minister of State. I agree with his assessment of the problem and all its human repercussions. My basic point, which I would like the Minister of State to bring back to the Minister for consideration, is the Department of Health should accept addiction to gambling is an issue for it and there should be ring-fenced money and delineated services, as for other illnesses. I appeal to the Minister of State to look at that. I appreciate his response and acceptance of the great problem and the need to deal wit…

I did not have an opportunity to join with the Cathaoirleach in expressing my personal sympathy, and I know I speak for all Members, with the wife and family of the Sir David Amess MP in the UK. It was a horrendous crime against a wonderful family and against democracy. It is a crime against good values and everything that is right in humanity. It is a horror. We are conscious that today at 12.45 p.m. we are having a mass in his honour and for his family at St. Teresa's Church, Clarendon Street. I hope Members can …

I thank the Leader.

I thank Senator O'Loughlin. I am going to be strict on time out of deference to the ceremonies later.

I thank Senator Keogan. I am conscious that we have to move on today because of the mass but I will say this: I am from that community and I know the exact case. I know that, tragically and sadly, everything Senator Keogan has said is true. It is a horror. It is an unspeakable event and the events leading to it are unspeakable. I thank Senator Keogan for raising it. I look forward to the Leader's response on that. This is the most serious matter raised here for a long time.

To make it clear to colleagues who have arrived, I am taking the prearranged list first and then will move to give the vacant slots.

I thank the Senator. I certainly relate to that matter because my wife does those checks every day.

I thank the Leader for her responses, particularly the last one. I also thank Senator Keogan. I hope, please God, that we can discuss the matter again because it is beyond serious. Senator Marie Sherlock has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business: "That No. 15 be taken before No. 1." Senator Craughwell seconded the amendment. The Leader has indicated that she is prepared to accept the amendment. Is the amendment agreed? Agreed.

When is it proposed to take Second Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I thank the Minister of State and I welcome him to the Chamber, as always. I ask the Senator to respond to him and he has one minute to do so.

Is í an chéad chainteoir eile ná an Seanadóir Mac Giolla Phádraig. An féidir le Seanadóirí a bheith an-chúramach leis an am? Munar féidir, ní bheimid in ann gach duine a thógáil isteach. Bígí an-chúramach leis an am, le bhur dtoil.

There are three speakers outstanding, and a possible fourth. Could the Senators agree to four minutes each? In other words, the Minister of State must respond at 6.20 p.m. Is that acceptable?

Do your best. That is all anyone can reasonably do.

Táimid buíoch díot as ucht an chomhoibrithe sin.

I thank the Senator. No one could accuse her of forgetting the people from her home area. I invite the Minister of State to conclude the debate.

I wish to raise an issue which, as the Leader well knows, needs to be dealt with and which presents a huge threat to our economy and way of life, namely, the current labour shortages in our country. The shortages affect many sectors. I will go through just a few of them. In respect of agriculture, there is intensive pig farming in County Cavan. The processing sector there is experiencing shortages such that batches of pigs cannot be sent for processing to create new stock. This is creating a nightmare scenario in t…

I have received notice from Senator Marie Sherlock that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, she proposes to raise the following matter: The need for the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to make a statement on the measures in place to address waiting lists for counselling services for victims of rape and sexual abuse and the supports in place to retain psychotherapists within section 56 organisations. I have also received notice from Senator Lynn Ruane of the fol…