I thank the MEPs for their opening statements on a broad range of topics. Housing was mentioned as one of those issues that has been weaponised and utilised but it is of fundamental importance to our young people, as we have seen in some reports this week. We will now hear from our group spokespersons from each of our groups, starting with an Seanadóir Fitzpatrick.

I believe the Senator wishes to share time.

Before I call on Senator Alice-Mary Higgins, I want to welcome guest of Senator Shane Curley, Ms Divyanshi Jain, along with guest of Senator Joe Conway, Mr. Kevin Rafferty, from Waterford, who is a former colleague but, I presume, a current friend. I thank you all for being here today.

As agreed by the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight, the opening statements by Senators are to be five minutes, and the MEPs will then respond. Each of the MEPs now has five minutes to respond. Our Senators will then come back in for the remainder of the debate, with the MEPs concluding, along with the Leas-Chathaoirleach. We will go again in alphabetical order.

We will go to our final group of Senators before returning to our MEPs. Anois, an Seanadóir Clifford-Lee.

Before I call on the next speaker, I welcome guests of Senator Eileen Flynn from Ardara Community Childcare and the Raphoe Community Playgroup. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann.

I will now call on our members of the European Parliament to give their concluding remarks along with our Leas-Chathaoirleach and myself.

I know-----

As Senators will be aware, notwithstanding that this is a debate-----

Senators have opportunity to interrupt a Senator while he or she is speaking and the Senator in possession can give way or may not give way. The Senator interrupting has 30 seconds during which to make his or her point. Once the Senator sits down, unfortunately-----

It is not about disrespect-----

The Standing Orders are-----

I believe the Senator who might have made that statement is no longer in the House so I cannot direct anybody to-----

It is up to the Senators. This is a debating Chamber. Senators have the right to interrupt a Senator at any time during a debate and ask the Senator to allow them to make a point while the debate is ongoing. The Senator in possession does not have to give way, does not have to take the question and does not have to answer the question but that is the rule of the House. It is up to Senators. I am not the judge of what people say. I am not the judge of the orders as agreed by the House. Senators have the right to int…

Before I call on the Leader and then the Leas-Chathaoirleach to respond and conclude the debate, I thank the MEPs for being part of this and all our Senators for their questions and the engagement in the questions and answers session, which is an important part of that. I welcome to the Gallery guests of Senator McDowell who are from Indiana. They are most welcome here today. All of them are from Indiana, from the business leaders. It is part of 140-strong delegation that is over here from Indiana as part of the ed…

Before I conclude, it would be appropriate, given the themes we are talking about in our Presidency of the European Union, to quote a previous MEP, John Hume, who won the Nobel Peace Prize, who always talked about what he described as a single transferable speech: Difference is of the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of birth and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict. The answer to difference is to respect it. Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace – respect for div…

I welcome students and guests of Senator Joe Conway from Italia to the Visitors Gallery. I believe the Senator is downstairs with more students from Italy. I think the best thing to say is " Ciao ". After that, my Italian gets very poor. I thank them for being here in Seanad Éireann. I welcome the Minister, Deputy Calleary, to the House for the Commencement matters, which are submitted by Members of the Seanad on the day previous to sitting. Four of the Commencement matters are selected by the Cathaoirleach for Min…

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Calleary, to Seanad Éireann. I officially congratulate, on the record, County Mayo on winning the all-Ireland football title. It is a bit delayed but the county is celebrating since the victory. We are a humble people in County Kerry and we are willing to wait another year for our 40th title. I congratulate County Mayo on its title after only 75 years. I thank the Minister for being here today.

Before I call on the Leader to outline the Order of Business, I extend my sympathies to Senator Craughwell on the sad passing of his wife during the summer. We all know that it had been a very difficult year for him and I know that all Senators were praying for him over the past number of weeks and months. On behalf of the House, I extend our sympathies to Senator Craughwell. We will be observing a minute's silence - and we will include the Senator's wife in that - in relation to a former Member of this House, Enda…

I ask the Leader to outline the Order of Business.