I pay tribute to him. He is obviously a local hero and a cracking player and has a very good future ahead of him.

All is fair in love and in the GAA.

Senator Ó Donnghaile spoke about an event which took place in the Michael Davitts Gaelic Athletic Club last weekend and I thank him for bringing it to all of our attention. I continue to wish them well in their endeavours. Senator Boyhan mentioned this morning that the Future of Media Commission report has gone to the Cabinet and he acknowledged that quality journalism, as I believe we will all agree, has to be supported, whether that is at a national or local level. We need a debate on the report in September and …

I am having a blonde day. I thank colleagues for their co-operation, for their interaction and for their contributions to the debates because they have been very healthy. In particular, I thank our staff, ushers and all of the support people in the Oireachtas who look after and mind us so well, and for their commitment, in particular, at this time of the year, because people in the Bills Office and indeed in these Houses have to work twice as hard just because we have to catch up with the amount of work that we hav…

I move: That Seanad Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on the European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to accept the following measure: Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 514/2014 laying down general provisions on the Asylum, Migration…

I move: That Seanad Éireann agrees with the recommendation of the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight that, in accordance with the provisions for the address to Seanad Éireann by Distinguished Persons, Mr. Marty Walsh, US Secretary of Labor, be invited to address Seanad Éireann on Wednesday, 14th September, 2022, and, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, unless otherwise ordered, the following arrangements shall apply: The proceedings in respect of the address by Mr. Marty Walsh, US Secretar…

I move: That Seanad Éireann resolves that the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach shall have the power to send for persons, papers and records included in its Orders of Reference for the sole and exclusive purpose of the examination of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform’s policies and procedures relating to the secondments of public servants.

I move: That Seanad Éireann, in accordance with Article 15.1.3° of the Constitution, hereby determines that the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands may meet on Bere Island, County Cork, on a date in September decided by the Committee, in connection with the challenges facing Islanders on the operation of national Islands policies: provided that, pursuant to Standing Order 82(3), Members may participate in such meeting from within the parliamentary precincts by means…

I am sorry; I am nearly having a heart attack. A lot of the time, we talk about politics being all about the personal. No one could deny that since Senator Flynn came to the House two years ago she has worn her heart on her sleeve with regard to the very personal impacts society has imposed on her community. I thank her for that and for this report and its recommendations. This is not the first report, however. While it is not the Minister's fault and I am not having a dig at him, successive Governments have issued…

The Order of Business is No. 2, motion regarding arrangements for the sitting of the House on Monday, 11 July, Tuesday, 12 July, and Wednesday, 13 July, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 3, Electoral Reform Bill 2022 – Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 1.15 p.m. and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 4 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair, which shall in relation to amendments include only those set …

Jaelynne is incredibly welcome. She should be really proud of her mammy. We are all very proud of the contribution of Senator Ruane to this Seanad and the previous Seanad. I am mindful of a number of the exchanges this morning. Probably the most pertinent response has been made by Senator Ruane. We are all entitled to opinions on any and every topic or policy and conversation in this House. What one is not allowed to do, as Senator Ahearn suggested, is have different sets of facts because facts are real and we can …

We talk about being allies in this Chamber and I believe most of us are allies. However, we need to take responsibility for the things we say if they cause hurt or harm and make people feel less safe in Irish society because our words have real consequences. I completely agree with Senator Currie that UK politics is experiencing a very turbulent time. This morning, the current Prime Minister, and soon to be former Prime Minister, used the term "Them's the breaks". Those three little words show his disdain and disre…

I accept the amendment.

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in the Standing Orders relative to Public Business, unless otherwise ordered, the following arrangements shall apply in relation to the sittings of the Seanad on 11th, 12th and 13th July, 2022: (1) The Seanad shall meet at 10 a.m. on Monday, 11th July, 2022, and the following arrangements shall apply: (a) Standing Orders 29 and 30 shall stand suspended; (b) there shall be no Order of Business; (c ) the business to be taken shall be confined to the items set out in the Schedule…

Now.

I move: That, pursuant to Standing Order 5 of the Standing Orders of the Dáil and Seanad relative to Private Business, the following members be appointed to be members of the Joint Committee on Standing Orders (Private Business): - Senators Malcolm Byrne, Alice-Mary Higgins, Michael McDowell, Barry Ward,.”

Tomorrow.

Next Tuesday.

Notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, I propose that we suspend for 15 minutes until the Minister is available, due to a division in the Dáil.

I thank the Chair. I also congratulate Ms Hunter and wish her the best of luck. The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding membership of the Joint Committee on Standing Orders relative to private business, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 2, motion regarding the 16th report of the Seanad Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight, to be taken on conclusion of No. 1, without debate; No. 3, Sick Leave Bill 2022 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 2.45 p.m. an…