To turn to more mundane matters, I remind Members that a Senator may speak only once on Report Stage, except the proposer of an amendment, who may reply to the discussion on it. Equally, each non-Government amendment on Report Stage must be seconded. Amendment No. 1 arises out of committee proceedings. Amendments Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, and 6, are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

No, this is only on amendments.

Sorry, Members may only contribute once.

I thank the Senator.

Amendments Nos. 7 to 10, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Amendments Nos. 11 to 29, inclusive, 31, 32, 35, 39 and 41 to 43, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together, by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I thank Senator Higgins for bringing forward the motion and for the briefing she gave earlier, which was very informative. She outlined many of the circumstances some members of our universities and their staff face. She pointed out that some of them are paid in book tokens, which I am sure they would prefer not to be. I thank her for using the Seanad reform initiative to highlight a very important topic.

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Seanad and participating in this debate.

When is it proposed to sit again?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Unusually enough, on this historic occasion, I second the former Attorney General, former Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and current Senator McDowell in his proposal for thanks-----

I am sure the former Attorney General will figure it out. On this occasion, as we mark the anniversary of the ratification of the Good Friday Agreement, expressed through the ballot box by the people of the island, we know it was only the start of a long journey in the implementation of the promise of the agreement. As has been said many times, it is a peace process. Peace is not a moment in history. Peace is not when an agreement is made or ratified. Peace is the hard, often unseen, work of many people over months…

Dáil Éireann passed the Social Welfare (Child Benefit) Bill 2023 on 17 May 2023, to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired.

I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Mary Fitzpatrick - The need for the Minister for Education to make a statement on the location of the new special school in Dublin 7, including the admission process and number of places to be offered for the academic year 2023-2024. Senator Barry Ward - The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on whether Ireland supports Taiwan's inclusion in the World Health Organization and the World Healt…

Before I call on Senator Fitzpatrick, I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery Mr. Kevin Conlon, his wife Claudia who is a former judge, and their children Cody and Carson. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann today and I thank them for being with us. They are great friends of Carl Hughes. I also welcome another great friend of the House, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. She is very welcome to Seanad Éireann this morning and it was a pleasure to meet her in Kenmare over the weekend. I thank her for s…

Before I call the next Senator, I welcome to the Gallery the Glasnevin and Drumcondra ladies' shed. They are most welcome today and I hope they enjoy their visit to Leinster House. We would be delighted to hear any advice they have.

I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery the new ambassador from Argentina to Ireland. Her Excellency is most welcome to Seanad Éireann. I thank Senator Carrigy for bringing her here. There is a link between south Longford and north Westmeath to Argentina. Our fifth largest diaspora community lives in Argentina, even though they left a long time ago in the early 1800s. They had an enormous impact in Argentina. As we know, there is a hurling club in Buenos Aries. In addition, the first admiral and person to l…

I welcome the Minister to the House for this important debate. The tourist season is now with us and we in County Kerry are always interested in the topic of tourism, no more so than in my own home town of Kenmare. I thank the Minister for coming to the House for the debate.

I welcome to the Gallery the staff and service users from St. Christopher's day centre in Longford. They have been brought by Senator Carrigy. I hope they enjoy their day in the Seanad and Leinster House and I thank them for coming.

Before I put the question, I welcome to the Visitors Gallery Deputy Paul McAuliffe and his guests, Councillor Briege Mac Oscar and her parents, Brendan and Anne. Thank you for coming to Seanad Éireann today. I hope you enjoyed the debate. To have a former Attorney General address this important issue is truly seeing the political process in action. I also welcome Senator Maria Byrne and her guests, Councillor Ita Reynolds Flynn, Dr. Mihai Bilauca and Mr. Rob Lowth. Thank you for being here this afternoon.