Verona Murphy

Sorry.

I thank the Deputy. I call Deputy McGuinness.

The time is the time. If Deputies eat into one another’s time, they will still only have a set time. I call Deputy McGuinness.

Deputies.

Please. Decorum.

Before I call the Minister of State, I remind Members that under Salient Ruling 342, the production of exhibits or displays, such as newspapers, postcards, placards or anything like that, is strongly not recommended. I call the Minister of State, Deputy Richmond.

I am sorry to inform Deputy Murphy that we are actually out of time. I thank everyone very much for their co-operation.

I thank the Minister. I will be here for the rest of the evening. I will wish all a happy Christmas before adjourning.

I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 39 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Pat Buckley - To discuss ongoing water outages affecting the community of Knockane, Castlemartyr, County Cork. Deputy Brian Stanley - To discuss school places for special needs pupils at second level in Portlaoise. Deputy Gary Gann…

I thank the Minister of State and Deputy O’Reilly. I wish them both happy Christmas.

That concludes Topical Issues. I wish both the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, and Deputy Hearne a very peaceful, happy Christmas. They will probably not still be here for the next debate.

I will endorse that in a minute but first I will go to the proposer of the motion for his conclusion.

Thank you very much, Deputy Rice and many happy returns.

It is so very fitting, as pointed out by the Chief Whip, for the parents who are in the Gallery that there is such congeniality from all of us with regard to this particular debate. It is so fitting in a week when we are about to celebrate the birth of a baby. I think there is no greater gift in life, so congratulations.

Before I conclude, I have a number of thank-yous I need to say. Believe it or not I am a year elected to this position today and it has been a huge honour. Again, I want to thank the Chief Whip who has been a great support. We have worked together on the Business Committee alongside all our colleagues. I wish to thank Peter Finnegan and his successor Elaine Gunn and the other members of the manage…

In accordance with Standing Order 85(2), the division is postponed until the weekly division time this evening.

Before calling Deputy McDonald, I welcome to the Gallery the following guests of Deputy Richard O'Donoghue: Marianne, Pat, Clare, Daniel and Jack Tierney from Mountrath, County Laois; Rachel and Ciara Coughlan from Cloyne, County Cork; and Mary Angela Downes and Brigid O'Sullivan from Knockaderry, County Limerick.

I thank the Taoiseach.

I thank the Taoiseach.

I call Deputy McDonald.

I thank Deputy McDonald. I call on the Taoiseach to respond.

I call on the Taoiseach to respond.

I thank the Taoiseach.

I call Deputy Lawlor.

I thank the Taoiseach and call on Deputy Lawlor to respond.