Senator, you had an opportunity to make all your points during the debate.

You are aware the Minister of State is supposed to speak without interruption.

The Minister of State will do that.

Senators, please. Let the Minister of State finish.

Senator McDowell, please.

I know.

When is it proposed to sit again?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Before I read out the Commencement matters, I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery the Polish chargé d'affaires, Mr. Artur Michalski. He is a guest of the chair of our parliamentary friendship group, Deputy Malcolm Byrne. Today we mark Poland's Constitution Day to commemorate the adoption of a modern, codified constitution by Poland on 3 May 1791. It was the first country in Europe and the second after the United States of America to do so. The Unites States is, of course, marking its 250th anniversary thi…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer.

Before I call on the Leader to outline the Order of Business, I am sure Members will join me in welcoming the honorary consul of Ireland in Detroit, Mr. Joe Patrick McGill. He is most welcome to Seanad Éireann. I thank him for being here and I am delighted that he is over here for the Global Irish Civic Forum events in Croke Park. I thank Mr. McGill for all the work he does for Ireland in the great state of Michigan.

Before I call the next speaker, I welcome members of the Garda Síochána Retired Members' Association from Kildare South. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. I thank them for all their work in keeping us safe down through the years and I hope they enjoy their time in Leinster House.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy O'Sullivan, to the House. I also welcome to the Visitor's Gallery guests of Senator Noonan, and the parents of Senator Harmon from Cork, Ted and Mary. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. Their daughter is doing great work here in Seanad Éireann. She is working very hard and does Cork proud and her parents proud. I thank them for being here. The opening speakers for this debate will speak for 16 minutes. The proposer and seconder may share time, and all other Senators hav…

Before I call on the next speaker, I welcome guests of Senator O'Loughlin from Kildare Volunteer Centre.

Before I call on the next speaker, I welcome Terry Leyden, a man who served in the Seanad, Dáil and Cabinet, along with his guests. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. Is he making another comeback for the Shannon? Terry has managed to come back to the Seanad more than once.

Go raibh maith agaibh, a chairde. I welcome the mum of another Senator, Senator Stephenson. Marga Foley is in the Gallery, I think. I think Ollie Crowe's mother is in the House as well today. It looks like it is parents' day or "bring your parents to work day" in Leinster House. Thanks to everybody for that. We have another group coming in that we would like to welcome as well, guests of Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee. They are about to land. Our next speaker will be Senator Collins. The group is from the Ursuline C…

Before I call the next speaker, I welcome Ms Gabrielle Maher from Oregon. She is originally from Ireland but is here as the Oregon trade commissioner. She is town for the global forum which is being held in Croke Park this week.

I thank everybody, including the Minister of State, for their contributions to the debate. One of the issues we discussed in the Seanad was having Mary Robinson come in and address us on climate. We worked with the climate and energy committee and it has agreed that we have that discussion in the Chamber. The former President set us a challenge in the Seanad to be a voice on the issue around climate change and biodiversity. That challenge, set down on the 100th anniversary of the Seanad, is one that we are continui…

The proposer and seconder of the motion will speak for a combined total of 16 minutes. All other Senators will speak for six minutes, the Minister of State will speak for 15 minutes and the proposer will respond at the end for five minutes.

On that note, the Senator is no average Joe. Anois, an Seanadóir Duffy.