Before I call the next speaker, I welcome Councillor Ciara O’Connor to the Gallery along with Ella Horgan and Jayden. Jayden, you are most welcome to Seanad Éireann on your 16th birthday and I wish you a happy birthday. We will all have a slice of cake when Councillor O'Connor buys it in the restaurant. Anois, glaoim ar an Seanadóir Craughwell.

The Senator is buying the birthday cake.

You can never have enough cake. I call Senator Martin Conway

I welcome Dympna Daly-Finn, a guest of Senator Maria Byrne, to the Gallery. She is most welcome to Seanad Éireann.

Senator Aubrey McCarthy has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business: "That No. 52, motion 1, be taken before No. 1." Is that agreed? Agreed.

Amendments Nos. 10a to 10c, inclusive, are related and may be discussed together. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I welcome to the House Mr. David Cairnduff, a guest of Senator Andrews. He is appearing in the musical, My Fair Lady , which was originally based on a play by George Bernard Shaw. It is a production of the Rathmines and Rathgar Musical Society, which is one of the oldest musical societies in the country. The production is in the National Concert Hall. I am sure Senator Andrews is handing out tickets so everyone will be able to go. The note I have hopes Mr. Cairnduff breaks a leg. That is not official Seanad policy.…

I welcome former Senator, TD and Minister of State, Joe Costello, who is originally from Sligo. He is most welcome back to Seanad Éireann. He is welcome to join us anytime he wants.

I welcome the Minister of State to the House for this motion regarding extra time in State exams for students with dyslexia and dyscalculia. Senator Curley, who is moving the motion, wishes to share time with Senator O'Loughlin, who is seconding the motion. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Seanad Éireann was saddened to hear of the loss of Billy Lawless. Those of us who served with him remember him fondly when he served with us as a proud representative of the Irish diaspora and of the 25th Seanad. Before I ask Senators to make a contribution, I welcome Billy's wife, Anne, and daughter Amy, who have travelled from Menlo and Chicago, which are virtually next door, Billy's sisters, Mary and Helen, and the extended family. Your presence here today is greatly appreciated and we are honoured by your prese…

We all make mistakes.

I welcome the leader of the Labour Party, Ivana Bacik, who is here today and who served with Billy with great distinction. If the rules of the House would allow us, I would ask her to say a few words, but I am sure Billy would wish the Deputy not to be coming back to Seanad Éireann. We thank Deputy Bacik for coming here today and showing solidarity with the family. We remember how Billy worked across the aisle with everybody for the betterment of everybody. I thank Deputy John Connolly from Galway for being here an…

I will put the time up for indication purposes. We have a lot of speakers who will have about three to four minutes apiece. There will be injury time because nothing actually sticks to time, but the Minister of State is coming in at 1 o'clock. Anois, glaoim ar an Seanadóir Ollie Crowe.

Before I call the next speaker, I welcome to the Gallery the guests of Senator Nelson Murray: Councillor Louise Fenelon Gaskin, Kamat Pratiksha Prafullachandra and Walavalkar Salil Vijaykumar.

Before I call Senator Frances Black, I welcome Deputy Brian Brennan and his guests to Seanad Éireann.

I also welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery the Minister for Transport, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. He is most welcome to Seanad Éireann for these tributes to former Senator Billy Lawless.

Before I call the Leader, I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery the Minister of State for the Irish overseas and the diaspora. It is most appropriate that he is with us as we finalise the tributes to former Senator Billy Lawless, given the Minister of State's role in the Oireachtas and Billy Lawless's great service to the Irish overseas and the diaspora.

I ask Members to be upstanding for one minute's silence

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. We are joined by the Minister of State for the Irish overseas and the diaspora. The tradition of Seanad Éireann is that a copy of the resolution is presented to the family members. Normally, that is done by our postal service, but we are delighted that all our guests are here today. We will go to the anteroom of Seanad Éireann to present that resolution now. We will be joined by our friends, including Ministers and Ministers of State, from the Dáil.

I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Chris Andrews - the need for the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to make a statement on funding allocations to support the League of Ireland. Senator Shane Curley - the need for the Minister for Education and Youth to make a statement on providing additional time for all students with dyslexia and dyscalculia in exams on a national basis for the 2026 State examinations instead of the current p…