Now.

Now.

I move: That, pursuant to subsection 2° of section 2 of Article 25 of the Constitution, Seanad Éireann concurs with the Government in a request to the President to sign the Appropriation Bill 2021 on a date which is earlier than the fifth day after the date on which the Bill shall have been presented to him.

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in the order of the House of 16 December or in Standing Orders, Nos. 4 a , 4 b and 4 c on the second Supplementary Order Paper be taken now, without debate.

I move: That the Fourteenth Report of the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight on the temporary amendment of Standing Orders 16, 60, 61 and temporary Standing Order 60A be adopted, laid before the House and printed.

I move: That the Joint Committee on Gender Equality may meet, notwithstanding the fact that in advance of its first meeting, the full membership of the Committee has not yet been appointed.

I move: That, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, the Order of the Seanad today regarding the arrangements for the sitting of the Seanad on Friday, 17th December, 2021, is hereby discharged and that the following motion be substituted therefor: (1) The Seanad shall meet at 10 a.m. on Friday, 17th December, 2021 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 …

If it does not conflict with the Minister's timetable, I propose an additional ten minutes be added to the time for this debate.

The Order of Business is No. 1, Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 1 p.m., and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 3 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair, which shall, in relation to amendments, include only those set down or accepted by the Government; No. 2, Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2021 - all Stages, to be taken at 3.30 p.m., and the proceedings thereon s…

I thank all Senators for their contributions on a wide variety of topics, starting with Senator O'Loughlin. She talked about the work of the St. Joseph's centre in Shankill regarding dementia. I compliment her, as chair of the all-party committee on dementia, on her work in highlighting the issue and engaging with experts in the whole area of dementia. It is important work because we never know who in our family or among our loved ones will be impacted by dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Senator O'Loughlin also ra…

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding appointment of an ordinary member to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, motion regarding the appointment of the Ombudsman and Information Commissioner, back from committee, to be taken on conclusion of No. 1, without debate; No. 3, motion regarding the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, to be taken on conclusion of No. 2, without debate; No. 4, motion regarding the appointment of one…

I thank all Senators for their contributions. Senator Malcolm Byrne talked about it being National Irish Sign Language Day. It is important that we recognise this day. I admit that I do not know any sign language, but the Houses of the Oireachtas have done much work in recent years to promote sign language. It is great to see that debates on Oireachtas TV are signed. There has been an amount of work, but we could always do more. I will raise the matter again at a higher level. Senator Byrne also mentioned the rathe…

Senator Ward talked about two of our MEPs and their views on Taiwan and the Uyghur peoples. I concur with all he has said. Clare Daly was here during the recent debate with MEPS. There will be an opportunity in February for the Munster MEPS to address the House. Perhaps Mick Wallace will appear at that point. Ultimately, like all practising politicians, they stand before the electorate, are judged by it and what happens happens. Senator Dolan talked about communities. We know the power of communities coming togethe…

There is the health committee and there is the business committee in the context of business supports and all of that. I will bring the matter to the attention of the Government. I think that covers the issues raised.

I move: That Seanad Éireann, in accordance with section 8(3)(b) of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission Act 2003, as amended, appoints Senator Lynn Ruane to be an ordinary member of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission in place of Senator Mark Wall, who has resigned his office in accordance with the aforementioned section 8.

I move: That, pursuant to subsection (2) of section 2 of the Ombudsman Act 1980, and subsection (4) of section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2014, Seanad Éireann recommends the appointment of Mr. Ger Deering, by the President to be the Ombudsman and Information Commissioner.

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 European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to take part in the adoption and application of the following proposed measure: Proposal for a Council Decision on the position to be taken on behalf of the European Union in the Partnership Council es…

I move: That Seanad Éireann, noting that the Government on 7th December, 2021 nominated Judge Rory MacCabe for appointment by the President as a member of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission and as its chairperson, recommends, pursuant to section 65(1)(b) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, that Judge Rory MacCabe be appointed by the President as a member and as chairperson of the Commission.

Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Feighan, to the Chamber and thank the Cathaoirleach for choosing my Commencement matter. I raised this topic in October 2020 with the Minster of State's ministerial colleague, Deputy Butler, who was here on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I mentioned the Westdoc service that covers the general area of Moycullen, Rosscahill, Oughterard and the outskirts of Galway city. On that occasion I mentioned that when GPs are on cal…