Before I call on the Leader to respond to the Order of Business, I welcome students from St. Brogan’s College in Bandon who are guests of Senator Tim Lombard today and have come all the way from west Cork. They are most welcome. It is the unwritten policy of Seanad Éireann that visiting schools do not have any homework for the remainder of the week. It is a pity they did not come on Tuesday. I thank them for coming and they are most welcome.

Ciúnas, a chairde. Could Senators please continue their conversations in the ante room?

Will the Senators claiming a division please rise?

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

I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Robbie Gallagher - The need for the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to make a statement on the lack of respite services in the Monaghan and Cavan region and the plans in place to maximise existing services. Senator Gerard P. Craughwell - The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the funding allocation to support head and neck cancer services. Senator John …

I welcome to the Gallery Deputy O'Donoghue and Dan Mulherin. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann today. I thank Mr. Mulherin for coming all the way from Australia. Equally, it is a long distance but not as long as Australia, from County Kerry, I welcome Deputy Michael Healy-Rae and his guests to the Gallery. I thank them for being here.

I call on the Deputy Leader to make her proposal regarding the Order of Business.

I know Senators were all deeply saddened to hear yesterday of the death of former Taoiseach, TD and European Union ambassador to the United States of America, John Bruton. He had a long career of service to his constituents and to Ireland. He was one of the youngest people ever elected to Dáil Éireann, being elected at the age of just 22 to the Meath constituency. He served consecutively from the Nineteenth Dáil to the Twenty-ninth Dáil, which is a huge era of service. Of course, we know that he held a lot of minis…

I invite Senators to rise for a minute’s silence in memory of the former Taoiseach, the late John Bruton.

In accordance with the order of the House today, the Seanad will adjourn until 9.30 a.m. tomorrow.

I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Ollie Crowe - The need for the Minister for Justice to make a statement on the total number of official deportations in the last six months of 2023, arising from the refusal of international protection applications. Senator Seán Kyne - The need for the Minister for Health to provide an update on plans for a new national positive ageing strategy. Senator Mark Wall - The need for the Minister for Housing, Loca…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O’Brien, to the House.

The Minister of State is welcome to Seanad Éireann.

I welcome the youth and government group from YMCA from Belfast, who are accompanied by their co-ordinator Peter McNeice. I thank them all for coming. It is interesting they are here when we are debating further and higher education and digital services and given the events in Northern Ireland in recent days. I hope they learn a lot about government when they are in Leinster House. We never know, they might be serving here in future.

We can always be learning.

If I may interrupt the Senator for one second, I welcome all the students from Kildare Town Community School.

When is it proposed to sit again?

I wish Tom all the best on his retirement and thank him, and indeed all the staff as we come up to Christmas, for all their service throughout the year. As we all know, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Tom and all the staff worked above and beyond. When our guests come in here, he shows them the utmost courtesy. I know he is running his last VIP tour this week, and we wish him all the best on his retirement. In the words of the Moriarty brothers from Kenmare: "Now you have to learn the art of how to spend time without…

Before I bring in the Minister of State, I welcome to the Visitors Gallery St. Anne's Secondary School from Tipperary. It is the unwritten rule of Seanad Éireann that there will be no homework, hopefully until 2024, if that is agreeable to the House.

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