Senator Ruane was not in the room. She has not been doing her homework.

If she paid more attention, she might have a point to make.

We are at 4 o'clock and the Minister still has not got to the contingency.

I thank the Minister.

Most of the time we cannot even get one.

I wish everybody here well. Senator Keogan and I have sought to make the case that there is another side to this issue. The happiness of people here today will make other people sad as a result of the denial of human rights, the exploitation of surrogate women and the denial of certain children of their rights. Every child is welcome and nobody should ever be stigmatised. However, I believe the day will come when we will look back and say this was retrograde legislation because it put the rights and aspirations of …

We have to respect each other's sincerity and the sincerity of each other's aspirations. When I used the term "those people", I always said it, as the Senator knows, with the deepest of respect for people, even when I disagreed with what they were doing or had done. Everybody deserves to be loved and cherished at the end of the day.

I dtosach báire, déanaim comhbhrón le muintir Mhíchíl Uí Mhuircheartaigh. Tá laoch ar lár inniu. Fear mór Gaelach, galánta, a bhí ann agus ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. I think the first time I met Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh was when I was a student of journalism. He was very kind to me when I was doing a project on the history of the GAA and told me many interesting things. The next occasion we met was here when he addressed the Seanad. He was always interesting and always courteous. He was the epitome of the Irish g…

-----and then let them talk about protests.

I am not aware of that rule. He is not accountable to us in the Chamber. I am not aware of a rule that he is not to be referred to.

He is often right, but when he is wrong, he is badly wrong and he should call himself aside on this issue.

I look forward to seeing that rule in writing, a Leas-Chathaoirligh.

If I may say so, as I understand it, there is a separation of powers and we respect the separate legitimacy of other roles. However, to say that in the national Parliament nobody can be the subject of critical comment, respectfully delivered, is not a rule that-----

We would not and should not comment-----

We would not comment on matters that are sub judice , but-----

If the President gets it wrong, above all, and equal to all citizens and especially in our national Parliament, we are entitled to comment.

Could you give me the precise rule?

Would you quote it in this House, please, a Leas-Chathaoirligh?

There is no point saying it is very well established. If we cannot criticise something that Uachtarán na hÉireann has said, this is not a democracy. When he gets it wrong, he gets it badly wrong. He is admirable in many respects, but-----

-----his head is in the wrong place on this issue. He is campaigning and he needs to be-----