The Minister of State's opening statement was circulated. It runs to a page and four or five paragraphs. The final paragraph refers to the development of this regulatory framework. Does the Minister of State see that lovely term "regulatory framework"? The framework was in the amendment. The document states that the development of this regulatory framework has been a key priority for the Government, which is great and positive, and represents an integral part of the ongoing development of the statutory home care sc…

The Bill is coming through, and that will take 12 months. We are going to then have a transitional period about which the Minister of State spoke eloquently at committee. He was pressed on that point by various members. He said that the reality is that there will be a transitional period. There will be phasing as new people come in. There are other sideshows going on to address the shortage of carers and all of that. There is a three-year timeframe. I heard what the Minister of State said. I am conscious that the O…

I will be brief because I am aware it is the end of a long day for many of us. I wish the Minister of State well. The way he conducts himself and his business makes matters easier to deal with. I wanted to acknowledge that because it is a significant part of the success of navigating this Bill through the House. That is a credit to the Minister of State personally and I thank him for that. He has made a number of commitments, which I look forward to. I will be tracking them, as he doubtless knows. I make a final pl…

Absolutely.

Hear, hear. Well said.

I congratulate Senator Ahearn, who has been appointed Leader of the Seanad. I also congratulate Senator Cathal Byrne, who will be the Government Chief Whip in the Seanad. I wish them both well. It is an important step and a great honour and privilege. I hope from all sides of the House that we will work constructively. While we might not agree on policy or legislation, we will agree on how we conduct ourselves and the way we in this House order our business. I wish them both every success and happiness in their ter…

I also welcome Deputy Conor D. McGuinness and his visitors to the Seanad.

I thank the Minister of State very much. I really appreciate her coming into the House today to deal with the first two Commencement matters.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan. The next Commencement matter is in the name of Senator Kennelly. It relates to the establishment of driving test centres, in particular in Listowel, County Kerry. As there is a list of every test centre in The Irish Times today, it is very topical that he should be raising this issue. The floor is his.

I thank the Minister of the State for his time. We appreciate him coming to the Seanad.

The Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, is welcome to the House.

I thank the Minister of State for his time and for coming to the House. It is greatly appreciated. I thank the Senator for raising this as a Commencement matter.

I note the Order of Business proposed by the Leader. In the weeks coming up to the summer recess, we are going to be busy. If there is a lot of additional legislation coming down the tracks, I ask the Leader to consider extending the sitting times, either to start earlier or finish later. The Seanad is a revising Chamber. We have important legislative work to do. The Ministers and Members on all sides of the House need time. Let us work together constructively to see if we can start an hour or two earlier. I unders…

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

I second the amendment.

The Senator is very lucky.

The Senator does not need it.

I thank the Minister of State for coming here today. He will appreciate the constraints of time. He had to go way over the time that was agreed for the Minister of State under the Order of Business. That is no disrespect to him, but it indicates that 75 minutes for important legislation like this is not enough. I make one ask of him. I ask him to go back to the Leader of the Seanad and make a case, as Minister of State, that he deserves to have his time. He has difficulty here today and that is no fault of his own.…

On a point of order, can we clarify what was agreed on the Order of Business? I think it was 75 minutes for this debate, so the Minister of State has more than five minutes if he wishes.