There is nothing in Standing Orders to prevent-----

It is you who wasted time-----

The poor Chair.

We take our role very seriously-----

I offered some of my own time, so I will be-----

You spoke-----

I respect you.

May I reply?

There is nothing in Standing Orders-----

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. Since 2016 we have been caught in the middle of what, for many, has been the Brexit nightmare. Its prevalence in the public mind has been more or less continuous. Obviously, Covid-19 changed that somewhat but Brexit has never fully gone away and we continue to deal with its fallout. As an issue, it deserves much thought and constant attention, now and in the future. Here in the Republic, we have gained a growing appreciation of the fact that while we are not quite serving two masters, w…

Well said. I hope we will have a debate on China on some other day.

It will fit in. We need to talk about China.

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I have two questions which require "Yes" or "No" answers. There is an unfortunate tradition of verbiage being prepared for Ministers to read. It is not necessarily the fault of the Minister delivering the reply but, sadly, the answers given on Commencement matters are often not what would be expected. Is it the position of the Government that there is a legal ban in place on public masses or other public religious worship taking place at the moment? I am looking for a "Yes" or "No" answ…

Similar to the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, the Minister of State has given a personally generous answer, which I thank him for, but the statement he has delivered on behalf of the Government is typical of the evasion on this issue. The Minister of State has said that based on the current epidemiological situation, it will be necessary to celebrate Easter online and at home. He then went on to say what ministers of religion can do to celebrate funerals and so on. The Government is continuing in misdirection b…

I command my NUI Seanad colleague, Senator Higgins, on introducing the Bill which I support. I welcome the Minister of State. We have a serious problem with value for money in this country. It arises in part because of the quick-fix nature of Irish politics and public administration and the constant desire to seek out easy answers to difficult problems, often for electoral reasons. Flowing from this is the notion that when it comes to public procurement, the cheapest option would have surely delivered the best valu…

I am proud to be accused of finally saying something gendered. I had wondered for so long what that actually means. Some €11 billion per annum is spent by the State on public procurement, which is 13% of our entire public spending. This shows the vast amount of money at stake here and how much there is to be misspent. It also shows the purchasing clout of the State and what should be an ability to demand the best value for money. We are all too aware of situations where seeking the lowest price rather than the best…

In welcoming the Minister - cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire - I would like to endorse everything my colleague, Senator Dolan, set out so eloquently about the beauty of the area in which we live, namely, that of Roscommon-east Galway. I frequently walk and run around the back roads of my own place, sometimes bringing the dog, but I am always struck by the natural beauty of our place. I say that as somebody who has walked a lot on the Continent, particularly on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. What one sees there is…

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach faoi dhó agus fearaim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit agus míle buíochas di as a bheith inár measc agus guím Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona uirthi, ar ndóigh. Tá súil agam go mbainfidh sí taitneamh as cibé beagáinín de shaoire a bheidh aici ar an lá sin. It is now five years since the controversy surrounding charitable and voluntary organisations such as GOAL, Console and the Central Remedial Clinic. As the House might recall, taxpayers' funding that was given to these organisations, as w…

Absolutely. I understand those concerns. In the preparation of this matter I supplied the details of this to the Government. For the avoidance of doubt, it does not matter to me what organisation is involved but it is the principle when it comes to using almost €750,000 in taxpayers' money over a period of years. It is of no concern to me what organisation is involved, what it does or what it stands for. It is the principle of how taxpayers' money is disbursed that is my only concern in bringing this matter before …

I thank the Minister of State for her reply but she is in the unfortunate position, as Ministers often are here, of having to deliver a speech on behalf of another Minister. I listened carefully but did not hear the answer to the core issue, which is whether an organisation that has not submitted audited accounts should be getting State money. The serious questions I have remain, namely, whether it is common practice that the HSE or the Department of Health would commit funding to organisations that have not filed …