I have no issue with that, Senator Clifford-Lee, but it is you guys who are delaying this.

I will conclude, because I have spoken long enough. Let us bring this charade to an end. We are either going to sit past 6 p.m.-----

I want to put it on record that I would like to know if the Leader of the House, Senator Chambers, who I have so much respect for, is going to come back and propose that we sit past 6 p.m.. If she decides that she is not going to do that, then it is as plain as day what everyone is up to. Let us just get that clarity. Let us sit past 6 p.m. and have it on the record that Senator Chambers is happy for this House to do its bloody job, sit past 6 p.m. and get this legislation passed.

We know what you are at. It is fine and I respect it, but let us be genuine about it. We want to get this done.

It is like Comical Ali after the invasion of Iraq. This is a joke.

On a point of order, will my Fianna Fáil colleagues get in touch with the Leader of the House and ask her to return to the House? Is that a possibility? Can anyone get in touch with the Leader of the House to ask her if she will come back?

It is not that. It is just-----

Could my Fianna Fáil colleagues please get in touch with the Leader of the House to ask her to come to the House and make a decision? Can she just make the decision as to whether we do this or not?

The Acting Leader is leaving. The Acting Leader is out the door.

Can I propose a suspension until-----

Can I propose a suspension of the House until we find out who the Acting Leader is or until the Leader returns?

I wish to start by paying tribute to my colleague Senator Seery Kearney. The work she has done in committee, the House, the Fine Gael Party and with other political parties has been outstanding. Today is a very proud day not just for Mary, her husband Dave and their daughter Scarlett, but for all of the families whose lives have been demonstrably improved because of Mary and her actions in the Oireachtas. Moving on to perhaps less glamorous issues, Hackballscross is an area in north Louth. That is the name of it. S…

I was going to hold my comments about what has happened in the last week until tomorrow night's debate but I will follow on from the points made by Senators Fitzpatrick and Ruane, both of whose views I respect immensely. I am not from the north inner city. I have family connections there and know it well to a certain extent, but I am conscious that I am speaking about it from a completely different part of this island of Ireland. One thing that has frustrated me at times in the last couple of days is the narrative …

I accept where we are in the legal process and I take the Leas-Chathaoirleach's guidance on that. The point that I am trying to make is that this was not just one community going out looting and causing problems and hassle. It was people who came to an area of violence that had kicked off. They were people from different communities, backgrounds and socioeconomic backgrounds who came to cause one thing and that was trouble. However, some people in the media and elsewhere or just in general Irish society would have …

On different occasions over the past two weeks, I have raised the issue of all the flooding that happened in north Louth and the Cooley Peninsula. Last night, Louth County Council had its annual budget meeting. It was told that the council has applied for €2 million from the Government to deal with many of the issues that have incurred in respect of roads, infrastructure and stuff like that. That €2 million will be provided by the Government. However, the issue I have is that the €2 million will just cover public r…

I thank the Chair for welcoming my guests from County Louth. It is fortuitous that I happen to be speaking in the Seanad at the same time that they are here, and there are three or four tours coming after them as well, given we have such a good group up. I have spoken to quite a number of retailers and shopkeepers, not just in my home town of Dundalk but throughout County Louth. Some of the aspects of this Bill are certainly a concern for them and they wanted me to raise them directly with the Minister. I have four…

I will be brief and follow on from Senator Garvey. This is a straightforward Bill. It is part of our commitment, following on from the budget last year and into the budget this year, to mitigate and to try to help to insulate people against the cost-of-living crisis. This time around we are making it as simple and efficient as possible. That is why it is being deducted at source, which we did not do last year. This is a good example. The three instalments will come in January, February and March-April, following th…

Now.

Now.

Now.