There was a ban on selling them individually. It cannot be right that they are uncontrolled and offered for sale in larger containers, which can only encourage more smoking. It can only have this effect.

I move: “That Seanad Éireann: notes: - that a majority of members of the Oireachtas have expressed their support for the full restoration of the Oireachtas Library and Reading Room on the ground floor of Leinster House, and its furnishings and full complement of staff; and calls on: - the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission to abandon its proposals to convert that space into an additional committee room and events space.”

This motion speaks for itself but I want to put the background to it on the record. The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission has not decided anything on the closure of the Members' reading room. The Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil Reform has received a submission but has not approved it. The submission would mean the existing reading room, which is the shared facility of Senators and Dáil Deputies, would be converted into a fifth committee room. I want to put on the record of this House that the fixed estimate…

Apart from the scandalous cost involved in it, of over €5 million, I have to say that the whole project has been clouded in mystery and almost the subject of deception. The affected members of staff of the Oireachtas, the Library staff, were told that the Members were in favour of this project. As Members in this House will know, I wrote out to all the Members of both Houses of the Oireachtas and asked them where they stood on this issue. I can say that they stood, by a very clear majority, against it. Practically …

The arguments against are non-existent, so I will not delay the House any further. I thank all the Members who have spoken in support of the motion for their kind words for the proposers of this motion. People say that the direction of travel is one way. One Member of the other House who spoke to me this evening said it was a fait accompli and there was no stopping it. Then I inquired and found out that no competent body has made this decision. The Houses of the Oireachtas Commission has not made this decision. The…

The first thing I want to mention today is the reading room downstairs in this building. I circulated the Members of both Dáil Éireann and Seanad Eireann, asking them to express a view as to whether the reading room should be restored to its previous state. I am glad that a very clear majority of Members of both Houses have responded favourably to my suggestion. The reason I mention it is I ask the Leader in particular to consider whether the wishes of the Members of the two Houses in Leinster House should be taken…

No, I am coming to that. It is not the Leader’s role to do that; of course, it is not. However, a Chathaoirligh, it is her role to provide time in which we can discuss all of these matters, and that is what I am asking for. I am asking that we have a real discussion so that we can articulate very clearly what we want to do on this matter, rather than have people decide the agenda in distant places and then confront us, post-Covid, with the wrecking of a decent institution in this House. It is a sad scene, if one lo…

People say that one campaigns in poetry and governs in prose. If this is any indication of what that party aspires to do with Ireland's international relations, God help us if it has any say in the future.

It is waiting for the fire.

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. As a preliminary point, this problem has been here for a long time. I have been writing about it in various newspapers for ten years. I am glad to hear what was said by Senator Cummins about Waterford and I am glad that Senator Fitzpatrick is so upbeat about the improvements she sees there. However, the simple fact is we are not doing enough. We are simply not doing enough. Waterford is a beautiful city and there is a beautiful heart to that city. However, Dublin is a d…

That is a fair point but what about the €20 million it was going to spend on the kayaking centre?

I was given a copy of the Trinity College Dublin student newspaper, the Trinity News , today. I note in it, to my sadness, that Senator Norris, a member of the Independent Group, has decided that he will be standing down as a Senator in January 2024. I ask that, given that the Christmas season will soon be upon us, adequate provision will be made in this House to signal our deep sense of loyalty and gratitude to Senator Norris for 36 years of service in these Houses. I was writing an article for tomorrow's edition …

I am getting ready for the new university constituency.

Talking.

I welcome the Minister to the House. I also welcome the upbeat tone of his remarks. Considerable progress has been made, as Senator Fitzpatrick has said. It would be foolish of us to deny this, but it would be equally foolish of us to underestimate what we now face. I want to make several points, first on the Constitution. There is a suggestion that we need to amend the Constitution somehow to tackle the housing crisis. I defy anybody in this Chamber to point to any provision of the Constitution that prevents the I…

I welcome the Minister of State and thank the Senators for proposing this legislation for our consideration. I am probably in a speaking minority in this debate because I am opposed to the principle of the Bill. I will explain why, if I may. The Leader of the House intends to postpone consideration of the Bill via an amendment. So be it, but the issues are important and need to be teased out. I wish to express some views of my own on the matter. The age of majority comes into question in this regard. People under t…

Or use an e-scooter.

On a point of order, are we to assume that notwithstanding that the Government decided it was going to kick this down the road, it is not going to be proposed anymore? I understood the Order Paper was going to bring in the Leader of the House to propose an amendment. Is that not happening now? I would like somebody to tell us. I would have voted against her amendment because I think the issue is simple. Surely we should have some indication as to how it is that the Government puts in a supplemental amendment on the…

Was it seconded?

Fair enough. It is defeated, then. I am delighted it is defeated.