We will now check on the Homer Simpson amendment. Is amendment No. 11 being pressed?

The Senator may withdraw the amendment.

Amendments Nos. 12 and 48 to 56, inclusive, are related. Amendment No. 51 is a physical alternative to amendment No. 50.

As it is now 6 p.m., the debate on this Bill must adjourn in accordance with the order of the House.

When is it proposed to sit again?

I agree with my colleague on the issue around commercial rates, which is a 19th-century tax in a 21st-century world. We need to look at different ways for our local authorities to raise funds that do not put people out of business, which is what is happening in Kerry and other parts of the world. There are the issues around pension auto-enrolment and the increase in wages, which is welcome, but these all coming at the same time is having a crippling effect on many small businesses.

Go raibh maith agat, a Aire. I congratulate you on your elevation to high office and thank you for coming to the Seanad. You always came in when you were a Minister of State. It is great to see you back in here as a Cabinet Minister. We wish you every success in your new role. I ask the Acting Leader to move the suspension of the House until 3.20 p.m.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I thank the Minister for outlining the work that has been done and continues to be done by the Government. I thank my colleague, Senator Fiona O’Loughlin, for tabling this motion on school placements. I note that some Senators talked about students going into schools that are already overcrowded, but I think their preference is to go to the schools where their friends are and are in their neighbourhood rather than go farther way, which would have a detrimental effect on them. As the Minister outlined, we have spent…

I join with the Cathaoirleach and colleagues in paying tribute to former Senator and councillor Richard Dowling. I thank him and his family for his service to the State, his county and the people he represented over many years both in his political life and teaching life and through his love of sport. We express our deepest sympathies to his wife, his sons and daughters and his extended family.

Amendments Nos. 9 to 11, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

When is it proposed to take Report Stage?

Is that agreed?

Will the Senators claiming a division please rise?

As fewer than five Members have risen, I declare the question carried. In accordance with Standing Order 61, the names of the Senators dissenting will be recorded in the Journal of the Proceedings of the Seanad.

When is it proposed to sit again?

The debate will follow the normal patterns. The Minister has ten minutes, group spokespersons have ten minutes and all other Senators have five minutes.

I thank the Minister of State. I now call Senator Murphy.

I welcome Deputy Devlin and his guests, Rebecca and Daniel Knapp, to the Public Gallery. They are most welcome and I thank them for coming. I call the Minister of State to respond.

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?