I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, to the House.

The Senator has gone over time.

The clock to my left is not working. When Members on this side are speaking I will strike the bell just to let them know that the time is nearly finished.

As no other Senators are indicating I call the Deputy Leader to respond.

There is a point of order from Senator Andrews.

I welcome the students from the Harold School, Glasthule, who are guests of the Minister, Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. I also welcome the Killoran Drama Group from Limerick - I know many of them down there - who are guests of the Minister of State, Deputy Kieran O'Donnell. I hope you all enjoy your visit to Leinster House and Seanad Éireann.

There are three other speakers, Senator, and you are eating into their time.

Senator Casey and Senator Daly are sharing time, with the agreement of the House.

I will interrupt the Senator for a second to welcome the guests in both galleries. They are from the Basque region and are guests of Deputy Conway-Walsh. They are very welcome.

Without interruption, please.

Senator Higgins, please let the Minister of State answer.

I thank the Aire Stáit for coming here for this all-important debate. When it is proposed to sit again?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. I am looking for an update on the second model 4 hospital for Limerick and the mid-west. University Hospital Limerick is in the news nearly every day of the week. Unfortunately it sends out the wrong message for families and patients who need to attend the hospital. While there are an awful lot of things that work excellently there, the accident and emergency unit is too small for the size of the region. The population is growing and we need a second hospital. …

I thank the Minister of State. One can but hope. In regard to the report at the end of May, we cannot envisage what is going to be in that report. However, the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, visited the hospital on Good Friday on a spot check. It was busy, but that was a quiet busy. I hope that a new model 4 hospital will be delivered for the region. We only have one hospital and it is actually the busiest hospital in the whole country per capita . Hopefully, that is in the report. I thank the Minister of State…

I wish, first, to be associated with the remarks about Martin Groves and to wish him all the very best on his retirement. From the first day that I was elected to the House, he was always a breath of fresh air and very supportive of new Members especially, offering them guidance. I wish him well and I hope we will have the opportunity to have him in some day to wish him all the best. I wish also to be associated with the votes of sympathy to the late pontiff, Pope Francis. I actually went to the concert in Croke Pa…

I understand Senators Murphy and Kennelly are sharing time. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Christopher O’Sullivan.

I understand Senators McCormack and Conor Murphy are sharing time. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Senators Cosgrove and Noonan are sharing time.

There are 13 minutes left and three speakers so I ask you to each take about four minutes. Next is Senator Kyne.