The Leader without interruption.

A copy of the motion will be sent to the family.

The question is, "That section 11 stand part of the Bill." Is that agreed? Agreed. The question is, "That section 12 stand part of the Bill." Is that agreed? Agreed. Section 13-----

The Senator has got to speak up. We had got to section 12.

I had gone on to section 12. Please do speak up. I did not hear the Senator. My apologies.

I know, but-----

I have got to be able to hear him.

I am not bulldozing-----

As the Minister has no objection, we will go back, but I ask Members to please speak up. They have plenty of voice. To be clear, we do rattle through sections because when we are getting to-----

I thank the Senator, and no one is against efficiency, but if a Member has a section they want to talk on, please speak up. As the Minister and the House are agreeable-----

It is most unusual.

Before calling the next speaker, I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery our great friends from South Dakota State University: Dennis Hedge, the provost and vice-president for academic affairs; Sally Gillman, director of the study-abroad programme; and Dr. Joseph Cassady, dean of the department of agricultural, food and environmental sciences. I am not sure if Dr. Cassady is any relation to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

The other guests from South Dakota State University are Rosemarie Nold, assistant dean and director of global agricultural leadership, and Joseph Santos, academic director and professor. They are most welcome to Ireland. I note they were out earlier with staff from University College Dublin, building on collaboration. Ireland is a gateway to Europe, but South Dakota, like Ireland, is a small state where you can get things done and you are always about one phone call away from the person who can make it happen. I th…

I believe they are going to the Minister of State’s house for tea.

I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Alice-Mary Higgins - the need for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide an update on Ireland’s position on the amendment of protocols 1 and 4 to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an association between the EU and its member states and Morocco, arising from the Court of Justice of the European Union rulings on Western Sahara. Senator Sarah O'Reilly - the need for the Minister for E…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond, to the House. This is an unusual commencement matter in that the Senator has submitted it previously. I have reviewed the transcript of the engagement between the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, and Senator Higgins and it seemed that all of the information that was available to the Department was not conveyed in the response, which is why I have asked that it be resubmitted by Senator Higgins.

The issue that the Senator raised at the time was in relation to the conclusion of the negotiations. It was coming up the following day for a decision by Ireland and other member states. The answer led us to believe that negotiations were still ongoing. The process might have been ongoing, but it appeared that the negotiations had all but concluded. The concern about the people of Western Sahara and their-----

That was an issue that was also raised. Phraseology and language are important. The decision was the following day, but it was not even alluded to in the answer. I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. I thank the Senator for raising that issue.

The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, is most welcome.

Before I call the Leader on the Order of Business, I welcome to the Distinguished Visitors Gallery, all the way from the state of Maryland, Delegate Ken Kerr. He is most welcome to Seanad Éireann. Ken has represented his community with distinction in District 3 and served as an English professor in Frederick Community College. He was also involved in committees on health and government operation, so if he has any advice on government operations, we would be most appreciative for any of his thoughts. He was involved…