Sorry for the delayed start. It is a great honour to welcome our colleagues from the European Parliament, Members of the European Parliament. I will announce them in alphabetical order. That is the way the seats have been allocated to make sure it is impartial. We are delighted they are here. We are joined by Ms Kathleen Funchion, MEP; Mr. Billy Kelleher, MEP; Mr. Seán Kelly, MEP; Mr. Michael McNamara, MEP and Ms Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, MEP, who are representing us in Europe, working together as a team. As the embodime…

We are strict here.

Yes. Sin a bhfuil. I will give a light bell at one minute to go.

There will be a chance to come back in.

Anois - I was going to say "An Seanadóir" but it is a long time since he was a Seanadóir.

I would not doubt Mr. Kelleher. Anois Seán Kelly, who presented me with the Cahill Cup in Fitzgerald Stadium in 1996. It was not exactly the Munster Final, but for me it was as close as I will ever get.

A chaptaein - that was the Kenmare B football team, the Cahill Cup and Seán was the chairman of the county board at the time. It was a lifetime ago now.

I thank Mr. McNamara and call Ms Cynthia Ní Mhurchú.

I thank all our MEPs for a broad range and great sample of all the challenges and opportunities that face Ireland, the EU and its citizens this year and in the years ahead.

Senator, please.

Senator.

Senator.

Senators know the Standing Orders in relation to contributions in this House. They are well aware of them and use them themselves. I ask the Senator - people have a privilege in this House and must use that privilege carefully. The Senator is aware of the Standing Order. Anois, an Seanadóir Murphy.

I ask the Members of the European Parliament to respond - they have three minutes apiece - to the questions asked. If Members feel they did not get an answer to their question, we will bring them back in later. I want the engagement. After the MEPs respond, we will have one-minute questions from the remaining Senators. We will have that over-and-back exchange, which will benefit everybody in teasing out the answers.

Absolutely.

In this section, I ask Members to indicate whether a particular question is directed at a particular MEP or for all the MEPs. I ask the MEPs to take notes and make sure they try to respond to the Senators' questions. I appreciate Senators coming to the House and the MEPs taking the time to answer the questions. Members will have one minute each for the questions. We will get a group of questions together and then let the MEPs respond. If Senators feel they want further engagement, please ask because that is what th…

I ask Senators to stick to one minute. The next speaker is Senator Cathal Byrne.

The Order, as agreed by the House, is that there will be one minute per question. That is what was put forward at the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight.

I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery a Member of the House of Commons, Sorcha Eastwood from the Alliance Party, who represents Lagan Valley, and her mother, who is no doubt proud. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. Ms Eastwood is here to meet a Minister.

Ciúnas, más é do thoil é.