I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Dara Calleary, to the House. I think this is my first time being in the Chair since he was elevated.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, back to the House. She has always been a regular visitor.

I welcome the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, to the House. He is here nearly as often as I am.

The Deputy Leader does not need me to extol the praises of greenways, coming, as she does, from Mayo where they were ahead of the posse. I welcome the new north Kerry greenway, which will be opened by the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, on Friday. It is something we in north Kerry are particularly pleased with. I want to acknowledge that and pay tribute to the many people who made this a reality, including the local councillors, particularly Councillor Jimmy Maloney from Listowel whose project it was from the b…

Next Tuesday.

As we have no further speakers, I ask the Minister to respond.

When is it proposed to take Committee Stage?

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit.

I am sure the Deputy Leader will indulge me when I congratulate my fellow county woman, the Minister for Education, Deputy Norma Foley, on achieving one of the most striking aspects of the budget yesterday, which was the announcement there would be free primary school books from September. This is a major commitment by the Government towards education. It is directly in line with the philosophy of Donogh O'Malley to provide free education, Paddy Hillery to introduce community schools and Brian Lenihan to introduce …

I know I am not within the rules but with the Leas-Chathaoirleach's indulgence, I will take the opportunity to acknowledge the enormous amount of time the Minister has put into this. He has done it with infinite patience and sensitivity as he has done on other issues that are equally sensitive. This is an important station or pass in the journey. I wish the Minister well going forward.

Fair play.

I want to speak to amendment No. 13. It should be pointed out that the greatest inequity in the entire electoral system for the Seanad relates to the six seats voted for by university graduates. We are ready to go with that. It has to be pointed out that this is an insult to anyone who is not a graduate. People who are fortunate enough to get to third level and obtain a qualification are no more entitled or qualified to vote than people who, unfortunately, had to drop out at primary level, maybe halfway through sec…

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Martin Heydon, to the House.

On that hopeful and interesting note, we will conclude.

I support Senator Flynn's call for a debate on Traveller education. I commend her on her powerful and important speech on the subject. She has been a great advocate for the rights of Travellers and, indeed, for oppressed and abused minorities everywhere for which she deserves to be praised. As the Cathaoirleach commented, yesterday was the anniversary of the start of the Civil War, which is probably one of the saddest days in Irish history when erstwhile friends divided and took up arms against each other, and that…

Our Constitution declares that the Government of our Republic is a matter for the Oireachtas, which consists of Dáil Éireann, Seanad Éireann and Uachtarán na hÉireann. I do not claim to be a constitutional expert, but there is a clear delineation of powers and responsibilities between these three components. To put it in layman's terms, ours is first and foremost a parliamentary democracy and political power resides in Leinster House. The Government of the day is responsible for drawing up a budget and implementing…

I ask the Cathaoirleach not to anticipate where I am going with this. I am choosing my words very carefully. I have worded my speech on the basis of advice. The President-----

-----is also Head of State, a role that is basically symbolic and ceremonial. There is an important convention which, by and large, has been observed since we adopted our Constitution, whereby none of the three branches of the Oireachtas are critical of each other. We all remember the one case in which that convention was breached. It led to the resignation of a President and a Government Minister. In recent months, the Presidency has become involved in controversy, something that no one will welcome.

I cannot and will not address any of these individual controversies. However, I would like to make a suggestion as to how they can be avoided in future. In the first instance, the President and the Government should create a presidential liaison office. This would be helpful to both the Executive and the President. Second, a constitutional committee should be established to examine and provide clarification in respect of the functions and powers of the President.