That is the business.

It is a pleasure for me, politically and personally, to address Senator Buttimer as Cathaoirleach. He is well entitled to aspire to the position. He will be a very popular and successful Cathaoirleach. He had a bit of hard luck about two and a half years ago. I always admire people in politics who take it on the chin and get on with the work when little setbacks some. From my experience they always get their reward later on. That is a case in point today. We have been friends for a good while. We were both elected …

I am pleased to be able to represent my party to pay a well-deserved tribute to a great friend and colleague, former Senator Terry Brennan. I welcome Aileen and all of Terry's family and friends to the Chamber. It is a sad occasion but it is a proud one as well. Everyone who met Terry liked and admired him. He had a terrific personality and he was a loyal and dependable man. Terry and I were first elected as councillors on the same day in 1985. There are not too many of the class of 1985 still in harness but we bec…

I would like to ask the Leader to arrange, possibly in the new year now, a debate on the shared island movement. The shared island initiative was one of the Taoiseach and a sum of €500 million was set aside in the programme for Government for a number of projects that were aimed at benefiting communities North and South and improving relationships North, South, east and west, particularly relationships between the two traditions on this island. From a slow start, the shared island initiative has become a movement a…

I ask the Acting Leader to propose a suspension of the House.

I apologise for the interruption, Senator. Silence in the House, please.

I thank the Minister for sticking with the Seanad when he was under pressure from the other House.

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

I express my support and solidarity with An Garda Síochána in light of the appalling incidents in recent days. We are fortunate in this country that we have a community police force. The Garda depends on the support of the community and it invariably has the support of 90% of decent people. When this country was in difficulty during the Troubles, An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces stood between us and mayhem and chaos, with people trying to undermine the State. Many gardaí paid the ultimate price, not least m…

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Ba mhaith liom fáilte is fiche a chuir roimh rang a cúig don Gaelscoil Mainistir Fhear Maí. You are very welcome here. Tá súil agam go mbainfidh sibh taitneamh as an turas go dtí Teach Laighean. I hope you enjoy your time here with us. Maybe you might learn something and maybe you might be able to teach us something as well.

I welcome the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, to the House.

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy English.

Members may know I come from the town of Listowel and am proud to say that. The town has been making headlines recently for all the wrong reasons. A visiting priest - not a regular priest of the parish - made a number of homilies over the weekend in which he stated straightforwardly that people who are homosexual and in same-sex relationships or other things like that were living in sin. I have no problem with him believing that. He is entitled to his opinion. I do not know if it is church dogma. I am not qualified…

Before moving on to the next speaker, I acknowledge the presence in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery of a delegation from the Republic of Chile. They are so welcome here among us. I hope they find the visit useful and pleasant. We are debating housing at the moment. I am sure they have similar problem and difficulties at home. Tá súil agam go mbainfidh siad taitneamh as an turas seo go dtí Teach Laighean. I hope they enjoy the rest of their visit.

Hear, hear.

Will the Leader arrange for the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, to come before the House for a debate on the many arts and literary festivals that take place around the country? I would like to hear from the Minister on the growing problems with issues of governance and control that have begun to limit the creative freedom and the level of community involvement in some of these events. In recent years we have seen a serious and very necessary tightening up in governance procedures in every walk of life. We know …

The Senators have two minutes each.

I thank the Minister for his time and giving such full answers. I omitted Senator Carrigy's final contribution. I beg his pardon.