When is it proposed to sit again?

I welcome the Minister to the House. The debate will follow the normal pattern. The Minister has ten minutes.

I thank the Minister and I also thank him for his acknowledgement of the work of the Irish Kidney Association. We are delighted to be joined here by its chief executive officer, Ms Carol Moore, and its national advocacy and projects manager, Mr. Colin White. I thank the Minister for acknowledging the work of all the other organisations who have been working to get this Bill passed for the past number of years.

May I just remind you that it did upset everyone’s summer holidays.

I did not get a lot of thanks for that one, to be honest. Anyway, we nearly got there.

Sorry about that, Martin.

Thank you, Senator Conway, for your kind words. I think most people will have forgiven me for that recall but, as you said, it was in relation to this. At the time, the first Bill on organ donation in the history of the State was by way of a European Union Bill we adopted, adapted and amended, but not in the same way as others. This is the second organ donation Bill in the history of the State. It has been on the books and on legislative programmes for decades and the Minister is bringing it through, so we are deli…

Before I bring in Senator Lombard, I welcome Lieutenant Colonel Paul Connolly and the European ordnance group who are here today. They do very important work in some of the most dangerous parts of the world.

I thank the Minister for being here. I thank him for the consultation and listening to the previous organisations and groups, including the Irish Kidney Association. Most especially, he listened to those who are on the organ donor list and are awaiting a lifesaving, life-transforming transplant. Many of them are, unfortunately, taken off the list because they become too sick to receive an organ donation. It is great that donations are increasing but, obviously, we want to be the best not just in Europe but in the w…

The Senator is certainly irreplaceable.

No, the Senator has run out of time.

I welcome to the Gallery guests of the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. I thank them for coming here. I hope they enjoy the debate and their stay in Leinster House.

I welcome the Minister to the House. The debate will follow the normal pattern. The Minister has ten minutes.

Before I call the next speaker, I welcome from County Limerick the Adare Women's 2020 Club to Seanad Éireann. I thank them for being here today and Deputy O'Donoghue for bringing them. I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House. I call Senator O'Loughlin.

Before I read out the question, I welcome members of the Irish Foster Care Association who are here today and are guests of Senator Malcolm Byrne. I also welcome guests of Senator Keogan from Duleek. They do a lot community work and are involved in Daffodil Day and supporting the Irish Hospice Foundation. I thank them for their work and for coming to Seanad Éireann today.

I am glad to be here.

Senator Burke has big shoes to fill.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for his kind words in relation to me still being here after the marathon. I join with colleagues in remembering Louis Belton, who I heard about more than 30 years ago from Padraig Sheridan, the grandnephew of General Seán MacEoin. Louis Belton passed away, as the Cathaoirleach outlined, when he was just shy of his 80th birthday. He was one of nearly a dozen members of his family to serve in the Oireachtas, and it is quite an achievement for any family to give such service to the State. As …

Let the Minister answer.

I am sorry, the Senator has had his opportunity. The Minister, without interruption.