A Leas-Chathaoirligh, you are going to have to ask the Senator to withdraw his comment about the Minister.

I am sorry, we need to intervene.

We cannot allow Senator Mullen to say that about the Minister.

This needs to stop.

Are we speaking to the amendments?

I am sorry, a Leas-Chathaoirligh-----

-----but we are not having this deeply-----

The Senator needs to speak to the amendments; we are on Committee Stage.

Yes, you are----

I am sorry-----

We are on Committee Stage.

He cannot continue to call people liars in this House.

Next Tuesday at 2.30 p.m.

I echo the sentiments expressed by previous speakers. It is a good day when we see Private Members' legislation go through the House having been accepted by the Government. It reinforces the importance of this House. I commend my colleague, Senator Chambers, on all the work she has done to date. It results from her horror at hearing the stories put out by Una and Eve about their experiences. It is important that the victims of crime can highlight their situation and that we, as legislators, respond to this shortcom…

We have listened to many personal testimonies. It is fair to say that as women we have all experienced violence in our lives. It is incredible that we can all say that we have been a victim of violence. That is a really stark statistic - that half the population have been victims, yet it is almost seen as something acceptable. I am pleased we are having this debate, on foot of the murder of a lovely young woman, but, unfortunately, there have been many lovely young women, and middle-aged women and older women, kill…

I wish to speak briefly to this amendment. I want to respond because I cannot let some of the points made by Senator Keogan go unchallenged. The modelling is a new kind of method employed for a new disease. Modelling depends on human behaviour. Human behaviour differs from country to country and society to society. It is entirely incorrect to say that the modelling should be completely disregarded because it has been inaccurate. It is a movable feast. When people see the modelling, they amend their own behaviours. …

We have the Minister of State, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, with us. She is a Minister of State in the Department of Health.

Deputy Rabbitte is an excellent Minister of State. She is able, qualified and empowered under her seal of office to come in here and take amendments on health legislation. The Senator's comments are completely uncalled for. Of course the senior Minister, Deputy Donnelly, has interest in this legislation. The Minister has been in here on several occasions to discuss this matter and engage with Senators. To say that the Minister is not showing respect and only sending the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, is, to be…

I will make a brief comment on the booster campaign. I agree with Senator Conway that the enthusiasm shown for the booster campaign is very heartening. It was a great decision to reduce the period between the second and third doses of the vaccine. It should be available to all age cohorts. Some people are more enthusiastic about getting it than others. Some people work different hours so slots should be opened up to everybody of all ages in order to make sure that every available minute and hour is used by people g…

It is not. It is also Wednesday.