The Senator is here as long as I have been and he has a copy of Standing Orders. Those Standing Orders specifically state with reference to the Order of Business that we are to discuss the item being outlined by the Leader.

It is a special sitting of the House, with a direct request of me by the Taoiseach under Standing Order 22(2). It is a special sitting and different from one where the business is outlined by the Leader.

As the Senator is aware, the convention for the Order of Business is that Senators are supposed to confine themselves to what has been outlined to the House.

It is in the Standing Orders.

I was not in the House at the time former Senator Kiely was Cathaoirleach but I know if anybody brought up anything aside from the items before the House on the Order of Business, he would stop it. I have not done that and previous occupants of my position have not done it. We have developed a custom now-----

There are Standing Orders for that too.

The Senator raised with me a month ago that he wanted a debate on the issue of higher education but he did not follow-up on it.

I remind the Senator-----

The Seanad will return on the date agreed when the House recessed in July, which is 16 September 2020. The Senator agreed to it.

The Senator agreed to that proposal. I remind members that it is open to any Senator to write to me under Standing Orders, which Senator Craughwell undertook to do in regard to the Minister for Education and Skills coming before the House, but he did not do it. Had he written to me, I would have followed up on the matter. The Senator chose not to do so.

It is open to the Senator and anybody else to do so at any time.

The Senator chose not to do so when he had the opportunity. It is unfair of him to suggest today that the Seanad should have met sooner.

We could not get agreement from the Independent Senators and others.

The Senator may propose that amendment in his contribution on the Bill. The same amendment has been proposed by the leader of the Labour Party. I call the leader of the Green Party to make her contribution.

To be of assistance to Members, all of us in this House work in a collaborative way. Arrangements for a two-day sitting did not work out, which will be explained in detail at the CPP. I understand that there are conventions and rules in this House that have developed but are not in writing. I understand that. It would be better if they were in written format. I have had colleagues raise with me the possibility of raising issues during statements or debates. I am speaking about people who, like me, have been Members…

I thank the Senator for his contribution. I wish to make the point that if Members write to me to ask for the House to come back in for a special sitting, I will accommodate them. We will put that into the rule book. I guarantee that I will accommodate such requests if we can get the relevant Minister to come to the House. If Members wish for the House to reconvene earlier than planned, they should read the rule book and follow the procedure therein.

If we wish to codify that, we can include a provision relating to the Order of Business, but I am guided-----

What about Standing Order 16?

Under Standing Orders, Members are confined to dealing with the business before the House. This is a special sitting. There is one specific item before the House. I call the leader of the Civil Engagement Group.

What Stages was the initial amendment?