Is that agreed? Agreed.

When is it proposed to take the next Stage?

I thank the Minister of State and all Members for their contributions.

I am sure all colleagues were shocked by the sad news this morning of the death of an Irish soldier in the UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon. We extend our sympathies to all the families of those injured and the bereaved. I call on the Leader to outline the Order of Business.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. I call Senator Chambers.

Before I call Senator Ó Donnghaile, I welcome Mickey Brady MP and Francie Molloy MP, who are here to attend the Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann.

I welcome to the Gallery some very special guests. The Kearney family are more than welcome. I thank them for coming. David Seery Kearney has a special interest in the House, as Senator Seery Kearney’s husband. The Senator's daughter-in-law Rosemary Kearney is also here, as are her grandchildren Eoin and Luke. I thank them for coming. We are excited and delighted to have them here. I call Senator Seery Kearney who is doing extraordinary work in Seanad Éireann.

I thank the Leader for her kind words and especially for her leadership in what have been some of the most challenging times I have seen in my 15 years in this House. We forget about all the rules that had to be changed because of Covid and about the agreement that had to be secured, without ever having a vote by all the Senators, in respect of the dramatic changes to our structures, not only regarding the debates but also the votes themselves, which caused no end of concern. We were concerned at times about where …

I welcome the Minister of State back to the House. This is a Seanad Bill that has been amended by the Dáil. In accordance with Standing Order 138, it is deemed to have passed its First, Second and Third Stages in the Seanad and placed on the Order Paper for Report Stage. On the question "That the Bill be received for final consideration", a Minister may explain the purpose of the amendments made by the Dáil. This is looked upon as the report of the Dáil amendments to the Seanad. For the Senators' convenience, I hav…

I call the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, to speak on the subject matter of amendments in group 1, which pertains to the facilitation of the provision of housing on lands owned by local authorities. It includes amendments Nos. 1, 2, 4 and 5 and Seanad Report Stage amendments Nos. 3 to 15, inclusive.

Members may only come back in once and the Minister of State has made his contribution. He will also speak on group 2, which relates to the meetings of An Bord Pleanála using remote video and conferencing facilities, the subject matter of amendment No. 3 and Seanad Report Stage amendments Nos. 1 and 2.

We will now deal with the Seanad Report Stage amendments. I remind Senators that each non-Government amendment on Report Stage must be seconded.

When is it proposed to take Fifth Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile - The need for the Minister of State with responsibility for sport to provide an update on his engagement with World Athletics to obtain a derogation for the island of Ireland from the World Athletics 1934 boundary rule, which prevents Irish athletes from representing the island of Ireland at European and World Athletics Championships. Senator Jerry Buttimer - The need for the Minister for…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Jack Chambers, to the House and thank him for taking the first Commencement matter. I also thank Ilinca Popa in the Seanad Office for all her work in putting Commencement matters together and the Senators who showed great patience in understanding that while we had limited numbers each day, we hopefully managed to help everyone along the way.

As it is among the last Commencement matters of the year, I will allow the Senator in.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir. Before I call on Senator Boyhan, I welcome our visitors from St. Oliver Plunkett's School in Malahide. I thank Deputy Alan Farrell for bringing them in. This is the student council, or some members of it, along with teachers Ms Nicole Kennedy and Mr. Diarmuid Eagney. I thank Senator Buttimer for bringing their presence to my attention.

I thank the Senator for her kind words. That is an excellent proposal for the new year. As Members know, because we have 60 Senators, not everybody was able to speak at the ceremonial sitting and would not have been unless we made it a two-day event. Every group was allocated time and chose who would speak for them.

I thank the Senator for his blend of poetry and prose.