Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not have a question for the Leader but I commend the Cathaoirleach and the Ceann Comhairle for the speed with which they invited President-elect Biden to visit Ireland. As he is aware, there is an army of genealogists working in Kerry to establish an undoubted connection. We will depend on the Cathaoirleach to make sure that when he does come, he visits the kingdom as well.

I also commend An Taoiseach for his attendance at the commemoration ceremony in the North over the weekend. This was a first for the leader of my party. I know it is not the first overall. I welcome it and see it as a step forward - a small step maybe but all beginnings are small - in the road towards the move towards a shared island, which is starting to capture the imagination of the public and may very well offer a way forward and an alternative to the blind sectarian hatred we witnessed from both sides of the extremes in the North. He is to be congratulated on that.

We have mixed feelings about the future with Covid-19. While one swallow does not make a summer, we should acknowledge that there has been a trend in the right direction of late. There are signs of hope. Naturally, we are all pinning our hopes on the efficacy of the proposed vaccine. People need hope in their lives, particularly coming up to Christmas. In that regard, I have an announcement that will be of major importance to the young people of Ireland. I can state categorically without fear or favour that I have it on the best authority that Santa Claus is coming this Christmas, Covid or no Covid. He has made special arrangements and will be in observance of all the rules and regulations.We heard it here first: Santa Claus is definitely coming.