I would like to speak.

Yes. My mother and father made a fine job of rearing me but, unlike Senator Seery Kearney, I need lots of advice from people all the time.

Vótáil.

I have a friend in Cavan, Paul Connolly, who is a brave and tireless campaigner on the point that Ireland, through its exploitation of its tax arrangements, has impoverished many countries in the developing world and that these countries' budgets for hospitals and education are weakened because Ireland became a tax heaven for multinationals. I base my perspective on this issue on our international or global solidarity concerns. I also have a personal perspective, brought to mind by Senator Ward's comments. I do not…

Everyone does.

What about Denmark?

Not for this.

It is a respectful exchange.

On a point of order, the Minister is an intelligent person. She is very well able to answer our questions. This kind of exchange is healthy. It is in our democracy.

If he figures it out, he might tell us.

We need a few more Monsignor Horans.

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Cathaoirleach Gníomhach agus cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. It gives me no pleasure to say that while I very much recognise that there are people who are very attached to this Bill, who want to see it pass and who think it is a great thing, there are many other people of goodwill in this country who genuinely subscribe to an inclusive vision of human rights and human dignity who are absolutely horrified by what is in the Bill and who regard it as a shameful Bill. It gives me no pleasure to ha…

Shame on the Senator.

I wish everyone in the House who is running in the elections the very best. I was pleased when I got 36,000 votes ten years ago in Midlands-North-West. I would have been even more pleased had I got a haul that ran into the 40,000s like the Leader with her 44,000. Just as I have never really put out of my mind completely the thought of having another go at a European election some time, maybe the Leader will not either. I wish her and everyone else involved the best in the coming hours. We all have friends across al…

I commend Senator Flynn on what she just said, but I have to disagree with her on one thing. The Monaghan Senator will tell you they are a Monaghan Senator and make sure they bring up the Monaghan issues, such is the local nature of Irish politics, and rightly so.

And rightly so. The Education Act 1998 makes clear in section 9 that schools are required to do two things: to provide "a curriculum as prescribed by the Minister" and to "promote the moral, spiritual, social and personal development of students and provide health education for them, in consultation with ... parents, having regard to the characteristic spirit of the school", or what most of us would probably refer to as the ethos of the school. Not surprisingly, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, N…

It is a bit late to say that now.

I wish to raise the issue of how we talk about climate. No doubt we will have a discussion in these Houses very soon again about climate. I was very sorry I was unable to be present at the education committee this morning. I know the Acting Leader was there. It is very important we had the hearings we did. The committee heard from young people and various bodies, including the Union of Students in Ireland and the Irish Second-Level Students' Union, about how climate and the challenges around climate are to be talke…

Or history.

I commend my friend and colleague, Senator Hoey, on her valuable remarks on cockfighting and animal welfare generally. I share her concerns there. I think our education system is an area where more emphasis needs to be placed on respect for creation and the animal kingdom. We have made a lot of progress over the years in Ireland in this area. It would be terrible if we were to slip backwards. I do not know how I feel but I think most people in Ireland will have welcomed the announcement of the recognition of the st…