Vincent P Martin (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Public Gallery attendees may get the wrong impression that the Chamber is like this all of the time and it is not. That is why it is so incredibly amazing today.

Last week we had the first member of the U.S. Congress here to address the House in the 100 year history of the Seanad and I was struck by the bipartisan congressional delegation. In America, politics is so fragmented but they spoke with one unified voice on the protocol and the way forward for Northern Ireland and on protecting the Good Friday Agreement. That is just one positive moment to reflect upon and I find it uplifting.

I also find it very uplifting to get this cross-party support which we are forever grateful for. I also thank the Minister of State for her contribution. If it is ever going to happen it will happen now. The beekeepers are around long enough to know that this is progress today. We are not getting carried away. If it gets through today, it will be put to a vote. I am not a betting person but it looks like this measure could easily get passed today from the contributions I have heard.