I welcome to the Visitors Gallery students from Gaelscoil Chluain Meala, who are guests of Deputy Mattie McGrath. I am not sure whether they will have any homework for the rest of the year until the summer holidays. If their teachers have not let them off homework, they certainly will be let off it for the rest of the week. They can always do a carryover into next year as well.

Before I call the Leader to outline the Order of Business, I inform the House of the sad passing of a former Member of this House and the other House, Liam Fitzgerald, who was a native of Doon, County Limerick. He attended the local Christian Brothers school and studied primary school teaching at St. Patrick's College in Drumcondra, Dublin. He had a great interest in politics, winning a seat in the Dáil in a general election. He also served in Seanad Éireann from 1997 to 2007, elected on the labour panel in the Twe…

I welcome, as the Senator did, the mayor of Waterford City and County Council, Jason Murphy, and his beautiful bride-to-be. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. I am delighted to see Nicola here and we look forward to her returning as Mrs. Murphy in the not-too-distant future.

I call the Leader to respond to the Order of Business.

We will send a copy of the resolution of Seanad Éireann to the family of the late Senator Fitzgerald.

I welcome the Minister to the House. He will speak for ten minutes. Group spokespersons will also have ten minutes and all other Senators will have five minutes. The Minister will be called on to reply no later than 7.50 p.m., with statements to conclude at 8 p.m.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Before I call on the next speaker, I welcome Rachel Harper and Allen Bobinac, guests of Senator Aubrey McCarthy. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann today and they are with a very fine Senator. I now call Senator Nicole Ryan. Is the Senator sharing time?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

We now move to statements on delivering a world-class education system which breaks down barriers and ensures that every child can achieve his or her full potential. I welcome the Minister for Education and Youth back to the House. She will speak for ten minutes, as will group spokespersons, with all other Senators speaking for five minutes. I will call on the Minister to reply when all Senators have made their contributions.

I thank the Minister for outlining the issues we are addressing on education. Before I call the next speaker, I welcome to the Public Gallery the Holywell Trust group from Donegal and Derry, led by Mr. Gerard Dunne and Ms Sarah Duddy. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. I thank them for being here. I hope they enjoy the day. I am sorry about the weather. I hope it will be better when they get back home to Donegal and Derry.

Go raibh maith agat. I call Senator Tully. I am sorry; I took the wrong order.

I thank the Minister for being here for part of this debate. The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, is joining us now.

Is that agreed? Agreed.

I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Garret Ahearn - The need for the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport to make a statement on the funding of League of Ireland and grassroots football in light of the FAI's new strategy. Senator Eileen Lynch - The need for the Minister for Social Protection to review the rules regarding the widow's and equivalent pensions to allow those in receipt of same access to other social welfare payments, suc…

Before I call the first Commencement matter, I welcome the ambassador from Palestine. You are most welcome to Seanad Éireann today. I know you have a series of meetings and I thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with me this morning. We, as always, call for an immediate ceasefire and immediate access for aid into the Gaza Strip, the release of all hostages and a pathway forward for peace in Palestine and Israel. Thank you, ambassador, for being here today. We also have St. Pat's national scho…

I welcome the guests of Senator Nelson Murray to the Seanad Chamber. I thank them very much for coming to visit us. I hope they enjoy their day. I am sure the Senator will look after them very well. She is working very hard here in Seanad Éireann.

Before I call the next speaker, I welcome Claremorris National School class of 2025 who are here with their teacher, Lisa Dillon, who might be some relation of Deputy Alan Dillon. You are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. I hope you enjoy your stay. I do not know if you have any homework for the rest of the year but if you do, there will be no homework until next September, if that is all right with the teacher. Anois, an Seanadóir Daly.

Before I call the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy McEntee, I welcome Sheila O'Byrne, one of the residents of the institutions established by the State to which the Bill relates. I thank Sheila very much for being here and for her advocacy on behalf of everybody. The reason many of these issues are being addressed is because people like Sheila have not remained silent over the years. I thank her again so much for being here. Turning back to the legislation, the Minister will speak for ten minutes, group spo…

I thank the Minister for coming to the Seanad to outline this important Bill.