Amendments Nos. 13 and 14 are related and may be discussed together. Amendment No. 14 is an alternative to amendment No. 13. If amendment No. 13 is agreed, amendment No. 14 cannot be moved.

Does Senator Higgins wish to press the amendment?

This Minister of State has nodded in assent. Does Senator Higgins wish to press amendment No. 15?

Amendment No. 16, in the names of Higgins, Ruane and Black, is out of order because it is outside the subject matter of the Bill.

Amendments Nos. 17 and 18 are related. Amendment No. 18 is a logical alternative to amendment No. 17 so it cannot be moved if the latter is agreed. Both may be discussed together, by agreement.

At the beginning of this term I set myself an objective to continue harassing the Leader until the gambling regulation Bill came to the floor of the House and we appointed a gambling regulator. The Leader has been extremely responsive and organised a debate for me, to which a Minister responded. On many occasions I have outlined what a tragedy gambling is for people. There are approximately 30,000 people in Ireland with a gambling addiction. Charities have reported a 46% increase in people with gambling difficultie…

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, to the House. It is great that he is here to take this motion. It is appreciated. I now ask the Minister to address the House for up to ten minutes or whatever is appropriate.

I thank the Minister for that clear presentation and summary at the end.

It is my pleasure to call on behalf of the Independent Group my county neighbour, Senator Keogan.

I echo the Senator's sentiments in regard to our being back together again. It is also great that we are back in our beautiful Chamber as a collective again. It is another important milestone for us.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir féin. Our next speaker, as per the agreed rotation, is Senator Black on behalf of the Civil Engagement Group.

I thank Senator Black for that contribution and I now call Senator Kyne to speak.

I move: That the Eighth Report of the Committee of Selection be laid before the Seanad.

I am sharing time with Senator Conway.

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and I commend his empathetic involvement with this abhorrent state of affairs. There are 650 political prisoners in prison in Belarus. Not only are they in prison in the normal sense, they are subject to torture and sexual assault. As cited by the Minister, the threat to the children of the female prisoners is a horror. It is all a horror. The abuse and misuse of migrants as objects of war and collateral damage, leaving them stuck at the border, is shocking. I agree with my c…

Sula dtosaíonn an chéad chainteoir, gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach as ucht a fhocal deasa níos luaithe. Is cúis áthais dom é a bheith leis na Seanadóirí inniu agus beirt bhall de Pharlaimint na hEorpa in éineacht linn, Mr. Colm Markey agus Ms Maria Walsh. Is aoibhinn liom iad a bheith anseo. Is tionscnamh tábhachtach dearfach don todhchaí é seo. Táim an-bhródúil as an tionscnamh seo. Sílim go bhfuil sé fiúntach. I thank the Cathaoirleach for his remarks. It is a great pleasure to have two MEPs with us. It …

I thank Senator Chambers for those remarks. We will wait for all the statements of Members to be made before the MEPs can incorporate their responses to that later into subsequent remarks. I acknowledge yet again the excellent work that Senator Chambers has done for this country and Parliament as Chair of the Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU. It is also a very important job in the context of today's meeting. It is my great pleasure to call on my comhghleacaí anseo, an Seanadói…

I thank Senator Kyne for his in-depth speech where he has raised a wide range of very important issues which will emerge again in questioning and summations by our guests. I now invite Senator Mullen to make some opening remarks on behalf of the Independent Group.

I now call on the leader of the Green Party in the Seanad, Senator Pauline O'Reilly, whose voice is very important here in the context of some of the remarks that have been made.

The MEPs will have summation time at the end in which they might address the global questions being raised by the leaders. We will have the specific questions before then. They will also raise some of the same subjects. Our next speaker is a very distinguished member of the Seanad who was referred to by Ms Walsh, namely, Senator Black. She is speaking on behalf of the Civil Engagement Group.