Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to pass on my sympathies and those of the Fianna Fáil Party to the family of John Bailey, including his daughter, Deputy Maria Bailey, his wife, his other four daughters, their partners and his grandchildren, and the Fine Gael family generally. I worked closely with John. We sat together on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. I was there a little bit before him, but for almost 12 years we worked with each other and, sometimes, against each other. Very sadly, he died this morning of motor neuron disease. John had been such an energetic and dedicated councillor for many years. He gave his life to public life, both in terms of politics and the GAA. I was the Fianna Fáil group leader when he was the Fine Gael group leader. We worked with each other to put a programme together in 2014 that stood the five years. I sat beside him and we would often have little jousts, but we were good friends and I want to put on the record my sympathies to his family, friends and political colleagues across the country. It is a sad day for him, his family and us all.

I understand that there is an objection to the Order of Business. I will actually address the Order of Business, which is not something we often do during the Order of Business. Regarding the idea that we should set times for everything, I take Senator Bacik's point about a great deal of legislation seemingly being put through. I am not sure that we can call 9 July the end of July, but I take her point that that deadline might be focusing people's minds.