I have received the following messages from Dáil Éireann. Dáil Éireann has agreed on 27 April 2022 to the amendments made by Seanad Éireann to the Garda Síochána (Functions and Operational Areas) Bill 2021. Dáil Éireann has passed the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Bill 2022 on 27 April 2022, to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired.

I have received notice from Senator Tim Lombard that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, he proposes to raise the following matter: The need for the Minister for Education to provide an update on the appointment of a design team and project progress for the proposed new build for Summercove National School, Kinsale, County Cork. I have also received notice from Senator Martin Conway of the following matter: The need for the Minister for Education to make a statement on the special arrangements t…

The Minister of State is most welcome to Seanad Éireann and I thank him for taking these four Commencement Matters this morning. We are changing the order slightly.

Before I call on the Leader for the Order on Business, I welcome the Polish ambassador to Ireland to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. On 3 May 1791, Poland proclaimed its modified codified constitution as the first country in Europe and the second in the world after the United States to do so. The liberal system codified in the constitution of 3 May was brought down by the partitions which ended the existence of the sovereign Polish state. During the following 123 years of foreign domination, this symbolic docum…

I cannot wait to hear what the Senator has come up with.

I think it was also Brendan Behan who said he was a drinker with a writing problem. Would any other poets like to contribute? I call on Senator Buttimer for poetry.

I thank the Senator for bringing up that important topic from 100 years ago that is still relevant today. He is right that it would be appropriate for this Chamber to discuss that issue. It is important to acknowledge the past in order to make a better future. I call on the Leader to respond to the Order of Business.

I thank the Leader. I was disappointed we did not get her poetry. I thank Members for their attendance and the ambassador for being here. It being Poetry Day Ireland, it would be remiss of me not to mention our most famous poet. It is not Senator Norris, but W.B. Yeats. I am informed that the ambassador has a picture of Yeats and his muse Maud Gonne on the fridge at home. At least they got together on the ambassador's fridge, though not in real life. It is lucky for us they did not, or we would not have such poetry…

Amendments Nos. 31, 96, 104, 105 and 107 are related. Amendment No. 105 is a physical alternative to amendment No. 104. Amendments Nos. 31, 96, 104, 105 and 107 may be discussed together by agreement. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Is the Senator pressing the amendment?

Amendments Nos. 32 and 33 are related and may be discussed together by agreement.

Amendment No. 34 is out of order.

Amendments Nos. 35, 36 and 41 are related and may be discussed together by agreement.

Amendments Nos. 37 to 40, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together, by agreement.

Dia dhaoibh a chairde on this fine sunny morning. I have received notice from Senator Annie Hoey that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, she proposes to raise the following matter: The need for the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to make a statement on future funding options for post-graduate medical students following Bank of Ireland's withdrawal of a graduate loan facility. I have also received notice from Senator Timmy Dooley of the following matte…

Before I call Senator Hoey I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to the House. She will be happy to hear that her name was used a lot during the Order of Business yesterday and in praise of her and her work in her Department.

Before calling on the Deputy Leader to propose the Order of Business, I would like to welcome the ambassador from the Netherlands here today. Today is Koningsdag, or King’s Day, which is the national holiday in the Netherlands celebrating the birth of King Willem-Alexander. On Koningsdag, the Dutch turn their country orange in the same way as we turn the world green on our national day. Of course, the Irish flag of green, white and orange - which is behind us here - is a symbol of our links, with the orange of our …

I call the Deputy Leader to announce the Order of Business and thank the ambassador again for being here today.

I did not know that. I thank the Senator for raising that.

Before I call on the next Senator I welcome from Wexford in the Gallery Councillor Andrew Bolger and a school from Wexford, I guess. I welcome them all to Seanad Éireann this morning along with Patrick Higgins. I now call on Senator Annie Hoey.