Before calling the next speaker I should mention that many Senators are looking to contribute but not all will be able to do so unless they share time with party colleagues. The next speaker, the leader of the Green Party group, is sharing time with Senator Vincent P. Martin. They are taking four minutes apiece. We have the rotas of speakers from the different parties to be called in order, but if they all take six minutes, party colleagues will not have time to contribute. If speakers wish to share time with other…

Is that agreed? Agreed.

May I interrupt? This room is designed to have great acoustics, so although Members are whispering, not only can the speaker hear those whispers but everybody else can do so as well. We changed the rules about using mobile phones in the Chamber so that Members can send texts. Perhaps they can communicate by doing that. I thank the Members. I apologise to Senator O'Reilly.

Dáil Éireann passed the Ministers and Secretaries and Ministerial, Parliamentary, Judicial and Court Offices (Amendment) Bill 2020, changed from the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Bill 2020, on 24 July 2020, without amendment.

There was a proposal to amend the Order of Business to change speaking times. We have so many speakers offering on the following business. I will make the same point as I had made previously with regard to accommodating everybody. We were going to allow Senators four minutes but I think the Whips are talking about still leaving it at six minutes. I am specifically talking to Government Senators when I say that Senators must share time if we want to get everyone in. The order is that at 2.52 p.m. we will be calling …

Before the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Foley, addresses the House I congratulate her on her appointment to high office. I was going through the list of Ministers who have served in high office like the Minister, Deputy Foley. With regard to female representation we are all too lax when it comes to female Ministers who served the State down through the years. Starting with Countess Markievicz and including the current crop, prior to the Minister, Deputy Foley, there have been only 19 female Cabinet mem…

Ná bac leis sin.

That matter was discussed earlier.

As I explained to Senator Warfield, when Senator Craughwell was present, the matter is being considered by the CPP-----

The Senator can raise the issue on Thursday, as I have explained.

That is what we are here to do but I explained the matter to Senator Warfield.

I apologise, but could Senators stop moving around the Chamber and leave their masks on, please?

I thank Senator Hoey. The vast experience she brings from her previous post has served her well in terms of her knowledge of the education system. Before I call the leader of the Green Party group, I remind Senators that as there are so many Members offering, as in previous debates, I ask colleagues to share time. They have six minutes but if every Senator takes the full six minutes and does not share with their party colleagues, not every Member will have an opportunity to speak. We must allow the Minister to repl…

Before asking the Minister to reply, I apologise again. I believe we held her up the previous time she was in the Seanad, when we met in the Convention Centre. Members were so eloquent in their contributions, the debate went on for over an hour.

I thank the Minister for coming in this time and I have asked Members to stick to their time. Whereas everybody wants progress with this legislation, not everybody wants change. On this occasion we have seen great progress.

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Dáil Éireann passed the Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2020 on 23 July 2020, to which the agreement of Seanad Éireann is desired.

I thank the Leader for organising the minute's silence. I too express my sympathies on the deaths of Dr. Syed Waqqar Ali and Ruth Morrissey. Dr. Ali was the eighth healthcare worker in Ireland to die as a result of Covid-19. We all agree with the Irish Muslim Peace & Integration Council which said of Dr. Ali and all healthcare workers that they are at the front line of fighting Covid-19 and are true heroes. We express our sympathies to the families of Dr. Ali and all those who have died as a result of Covid-19, and…

Just to say-----