Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I am sure all colleagues were shocked by the sad news this morning of the death of an Irish soldier in the UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon. We extend our sympathies to all the families of those injured and the bereaved.

I call on the Leader to outline the Order of Business.

Regina Doherty (Fine Gael)
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The Order of Business is No. 4, motion regarding the earlier signature of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill 2022, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 5, motion regarding the report of the Joint Committee on Standing Orders (Private Business), to be taken on the conclusion of No. 4, without debate; No. 124(5), motion regarding membership of CERN, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 5, without debate; No. 6, Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022 [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] - Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 1.15 p.m.; and No. 7, motion regarding the earlier signature of the Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 6, without debate.

Finally, I would like to propose an expression of sympathy, on all our behalf, to the family of Private Seán Rooney of the 27th Infantry Battalion. He was a patriot soldier and an Irish peacekeeper, who died after the convoy he was travelling in came under attack last night in Lebanon. I wish the families of the injured soldiers well and I wish the soldiers a speedy recovery. I propose that we have a minute's silence to honour Private Rooney's memory.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

I call Senator Chambers.

Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail)
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On behalf of the Fianna Fáil group, I want to extend our sincere condolences and sympathies to the Rooney family on the passing of Private Seán Rooney in Lebanon. It was incredibly sad to wake up to the news today that one of our soldiers lost his life on a peacekeeping mission. It was a life lost in the service of his country and the UN, and a reminder to all of us that all of our soldiers - the men and women of Óglaigh na hÉireann - who serve abroad on peacekeeping missions put their lives at risk every day that they serve. I thank Private Rooney for his service and extend our sympathies to the wider defence community, his fellow peacekeeping colleagues and those who were injured in the same attack and are still recovering. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

I wish to draw the House's attention to the report of the Joint Committee on Gender Equality that was launched earlier today. Senator Pauline O'Reilly, Doherty and Higgins and myself were all members of the committee. We worked extensively for a number of months in the committee to publish the report. It is fair to say that the response this morning in the AV room was hugely positive. Many of the members of the citizen's assembly, which made 45 recommendations that we then worked on to see how we could implement them as an Oireachtas, were there to join us. The support and the welcome for the report was huge. It was lovely, for us as members, to get that feedback.

As Members will be aware, one of the key recommendations is for a constitutional referendum to be held in 2023 on the amendment of Articles 40 and 41. Many Members and citizens will be aware of the conversations around the woman's place in the home, with particular reference to Article 41(2), but there are other key recommendations as well, including a pension system for carers; extended parental leave for the first year of a child's life for both parents; recognition of care responsibilities; and recognition of the cost associated with caring for those more vulnerable in our society. While a lot of the focus will be on the recommendation to hold a constitutional referendum to amend Articles 40 and 41, there are some other crucial and key recommendations in the report. I urge Members, in any spare time they might have, to read the report and the recommendations, in particular. It was a pleasure and a privilege to be part of that work. I look forward to working on a cross-party basis, as we did on the committee, next year to get that referendum up and running and to achieve the result that we, as a committee, have recommended.That is all I would like to say on that matter.

I want to commend a former colleague in this House, Deputy Bacik, who chaired that committee and who did tremendous work. Her legal expertise was referred to by many members of the committee at the launch this morning. As well as that, her political expertise and experience came through in keeping the group together and making sure we adhered to the tight schedule relating to our work programme. The committee was, of course, time-limited nature. I thank and commend the Deputy on her work.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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On behalf of the Fine Gael group, I join everyone else in offering condolences to the family and loved ones of Private Seán Rooney from Newtowncunningham, County Donegal, whose home unit was the 27th Infantry Battalion in Dundalk, on his tragic passing in Lebanon. To the families of the other injured soldiers, I say that hope they make a speedy recovery.

As this is the final Order of Business before the break, I want to thank, on behalf of the Fine Gael group, the staff of the Seanad Office. I thank Martin Groves, Bridget and all the team, including Eden and Ilinca, and I thank the Cathaoirleach for all the courtesy shown to Senators over the past year. We have had a good and busy session and I know staff members have been put under pressure at times by the business but we have had a positive year and I look forward to the new term in 2023.

We have had a wonderful and exciting World Cup, and the final between Argentina and France is coming up. I want to raise the case of the Iranian footballer, Amir Reza Nasr Azadani, who has been sentenced to execution for campaigning for women's rights in Iran. He and 11 other people have been sentenced to death as part of the raft of legitimate protests in Iran. I ask the Leader that his case be raised with the Iranian ambassador. We have seen appalling abuses in Iran in recent months due to demands for rights and some of us have met representatives of groups in Iran that are gravely concerned about the tragedies and executions that have taken place over 40 years in Iran. I ask that the case of Amir be raised with the ambassador.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I thank the Leader for organising a moment of silence for Private Seán Rooney, which is important. I have family in Lebanon and I have been there on many occasions. I value and understand the work that is carried out there, as do many of the people in Lebanon. There are huge Irish connections there because of our relationship with Lebanon's UN peacekeeping force, so this is important.

I have great respect for this House and its staff. I particularly want to thank the Clerk of the Seanad. Bridget and their team for their work. I also thank the Leader and Deputy Leader. They are a seamless pair and they have operated with great unity. It is one of the things that is seen in politics. I want to pay tribute to both of them because there was never a difference in how they operated. They transcended all of that. I genuinely mean that. I said it to someone yesterday when I was talking about both of them. The reversal of their roles will be so easy because they have operated in partnership. I pay tribute to them for that. I want to pay a particular tribute to the Leader. She has gone out on a limb occasionally, but she made it and did an excellent job. I hope she will continue to do an excellent job in her new role. I wanted to acknowledge her contribution because it is important to do so. The Leader was prepared to step out of the political zone and was not afraid to challenge the odd thing, person or system. That is to be acknowledged, and great credit is due to her. She made the job her own and she has done it well.

I attended the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE, conferences a few weeks ago, along with some colleagues here. The Ukrainian delegation spoke in the Polish Parliament and read a letter from a little boy called Ivan. Ivan said he wrote to St. Nicholas and his mother asked him what he was going to ask for this year. He said that last year he had asked for a tricycle and a toy train and this year he was going to do something different. She told him to ask for the same again this year and that he might get what he asked for, because he did not get what he asked for last year. He said he would not do that and that he has only three asks. He said he wants his father back and that he would also like light and water. With that, the president of the OSCE asked that all the lights in the chamber be extinguished in order that there would be darkness . He asked people to take out their mobile phones and put on their torchlights. That was an important ritual and it reminded us of darkness turning into light. When we talk about peacekeeping and building bridges, it is important that we remember the significance of Christmas. It is a time for family and home, but many will neither have a home to go to or will have no loved ones. They will also have no chance of meeting many of their loves ones because they are gone - they have been extinguished out of this life. That is important.

I commend all of the agencies in Ireland that have opened up their hearts wide and brought in Ukrainian people. May we continue to do that. There is a thing about talking about hospitality one day and not another. We have a large diaspora and we are a country whose inhabitants have fled, for many reasons, all over the world to look for support. Most of us do so but we need to challenge ourselves. We are politicians and political leaders. We belong to all parties and none and we influence decisions. Let us go out renewed with confidence that we will not apologise and that we will make this country home and welcome for people in real need of food, homes and support and who want to rebuild their lives. More importantly, many of them will want and choose to stay in Ireland and that is a wonderful thing. Well done to all the people involved in that work but let us continue to be brave and courageous enough to take on the critics, stand firm in solidarity and make Ireland the place it is and that we want it to be; welcoming, supporting, encouraging and enriching. If we do so, we will see the qualities and benefits of enriching that diversity, which will make our society a better place.

Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein)
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Well said.

Vincent P Martin (Green Party)
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I join those commending the Leader on arranging a most appropriate minute's silence for the late Private Seán Rooney. On behalf of the Green Party, an Comhaontas Glas, I convey our deepest sympathies to the family of Private Rooney, his counterpart from Ireland who was injured and the other soldiers who are not from Ireland and who were also injured in the attack. We have praised the Defence Forces on a number of occasions in this House. We reminded ourselves that they put themselves in harm's way. I recall that on a number of occasions we recognised the invaluable, brave and courageous work of Óglaigh na hÉireann. It is so poignant when we suffer the loss of someone from that wonderful family of Óglaigh na hÉireann and when a member of the Defence Forces who is trying to make this world a better place pays the ultimate price. On behalf of the Green Party, I offer my deepest sympathies to all his family and to the greater Óglaigh na hÉireann family.

I am acutely aware of the value of Óglaigh na hÉireann, particularly as I come from Kildare. I am sure my party is no different from any other party in Kildare and around Ireland in that we have a number of direct connections with the Army and with retired people who have served a number of tours of duty in Lebanon and other places and who are part of the democratic process and living the next chapter of their lives. I am sure that is replicated throughout Ireland but nowhere more is that so amplified than in Kildare, where there is such a rich tradition in the Defence Forces.

On behalf of my group, I thank the staff, led by Mr. Groves and Bridget, and all concerned for their wonderful and dedicated public service in making this place so efficient. I also thank the Cathaoirleach, the Leader and all those in positions of responsibility. We are all in positions of responsibility. We made the place work so seamlessly for the past 12 months and we got through a great deal of work. I wish everyone the season's greetings.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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Before I call Senator Ó Donnghaile, I welcome Mickey Brady MP and Francie Molloy MP, who are here to attend the Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann.

Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein)
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Cuirim fáilte roimh mo chomhghleacaithe, Francie agus Mickey, fosta. On behalf of the Sinn Féin group in the Seanad, I want to convey our deepest sympathies to Private Rooney's family. We send our solidarity and support to them and to all the families of the soldiers who were injured alongside him.As colleagues have said, we often discuss issues affecting the Defence Forces and we often talk about them at a macropolitical level. This is the most tragic reminder that behind that, there are men and women serving with great distinction in our peacekeeping efforts around the world. They are the priority. I hope the outpouring of sympathy, solidarity and support for the families will give some comfort and solace to Private Seán Rooney's family over what will be, no doubt, a harrowing period for them, his friends and his community.

I note the launch this morning of the Joint Committee on Gender Equality's report and look forward to reading through it. I also look forward to hopefully getting time to discuss its recommendations in the Seanad come the new year. We need to bring about a number of important, outstanding changes as a society but constitutional amendments are also required.

This brings me to my last point. I hope we will see, as early as possible in the new year, a referendum Bill on extending the franchise for presidential elections to citizens outside the State. It is a programme for Government commitment. Parties across the board agree on the issue. I believe it would be very positive and hopeful campaign. Anything that enfranchises, enables and emboldens citizenship is to be encouraged and welcomed. Other colleagues have already mentioned Ireland's diaspora and the valuable contribution they bring to our lives here. Very often, we ask them for that contribution. This would be a way to acknowledge their citizenship and their link and value to us. It would also be a very clear expression to citizens in the North that no matter what community they come from, they have a stake in the Presidency and in ensuring we have a President who represents the Irish nation in its broadest and most inclusive sense.

I thank Martin Groves, Bridget Doody and the whole team in the Seanad Office, the Leader and Deputy Leader and all those who provide us with the first-class help and support we receive. There are too many to mention but we know who they all are. I believe I can speak for everyone when I say, without wishing to sound clichéd, that we really could not do it without them. I wish everyone a happy Christmas and happy new year.

Frances Black (Independent)
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On behalf of the Civil Engagement Group, I offer condolences to the friends and family of Private Seán Rooney, the Irish soldier who was killed in Lebanon. The soldier who was injured, Private Shane Kearney, is also very much in my thoughts. I hope he makes a full and speedy recovery. It is an horrific and awful tragedy. My thoughts are with all of the soldiers serving in Lebanon and their families who are no doubt worried sick about them. Irish peacekeepers are the pride of our nation. They are ambassadors of our shared commitment to peace, solidarity and human rights. We owe them a great debt.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Niall Ó Donnghaile (Sinn Fein)
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Hear, hear.

Frances Black (Independent)
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I look forward to reading the Joint Committee on Gender Equality's report. I commend all who were involved in that report.

I congratulate Senator Mary Fitzpatrick and the 1916 Relatives Association on their briefing yesterday about the campaign to name the new children's hospital after Dr. Kathleen Lynn. It is a fantastic idea. I want to add my name to the long list of Members who are backing this proposal. Dr. Lynn was not only a leader in the 1916 Rising, she was a medical innovator and a friend to Dublin's poor. She was involved in setting up St. Ultan's Children's Hospital, which is just up the road from where I was born and reared. She was a socialist and feminist. By commemorating her, we would not only be paying tribute to an heroic individual but we would also be remembering more widely the people who worked hard in the Irish revolutionary period, which was sadly quelled in the early years of the Free State. I hope the broad agreement on this issue is translated into a tangible result.

I wish the Leader and everyone else a very peaceful and happy Christmas. I thank the Leader for all the work she has done and I thank Senators. It truly has been a privilege working with everybody. I love the work here. I love the way the Seanad works. I thank the Cathaoirleach for the phenomenal work he has done in his role. I express huge gratitude to the staff, Martin Groves, Bridget Doody and all of the team. They do not get enough credit. They work extremely hard and keep this place going.

I express my gratitude to the activists, experts and campaigners who have supported me in my role as a parliamentarian and Seanadóir. The people I try to represent here are those work in civil society and for social justice. I hope I can reflect their passion and dedication for creating a more caring and equal society while I am in here.

I wish everyone a very happy Christmas and a peaceful new year.

Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail)
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I join the Leader and others in expressing condolences to our Army personnel and, in particular, to the family of Private Seán Rooney. It is very sad and even sadder coming up to Christmas. We hope the injured parties make a full recovery.

I want to use my time to pay tribute to the Cathaoirleach and the way he has chaired the Seanad. A lot of fantastic work was done and the Seanad is in a far stronger position than it was. I join in the thanks expressed to Martin Groves, Bridget Doody and the other staff. They are fantastic and I greatly appreciate the way they support and help us, especially when in the Chair.

The Leader has also been fantastic. I will always remember her role in the case of Robert Pether and his family and the effort she has made to try to get him freed. Unfortunately, Mr. Pether will spend another Christmas locked up in an horrific Iraqi jail. His family, who live in Elphin in County Roscommon, are devastated that, once again, another Christmas has come and their husband and dad is locked up. It is upsetting for Desree and the children.

Everybody wants Santy to come now. Senator Buttimer has already written to him looking for a new chair and I believe the Cathaoirleach will be looking for a smaller chair this time, which he will probably get. I too have written to Santa and all I want is a ticket to Senator Black's concert in Carrick-on-Shannon with her female friends. I would love that. I do not know what Senator Doherty has written to Santa for. She will still be a very busy lady but I am sure she will have more time for canvassing out in Fingal now.

I wish everybody a very happy Christmas. This is a fantastic Chamber. I was so devastated when I lost my Dáil seat but the Seanad has been a unique experience. We work well together as a group, which is fantastic. Even though we have political differences at times, we all have one thing in common - a desire to make Ireland a better place for everybody.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
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I wish Martin Groves, Bridget Doody and all the team in the Seanad Office, and all my colleagues in the Chamber, a very happy Christmas. I agree with Senator Murphy about the collegiality and the way we work together effectively for the betterment of others. I wish everyone a very happy Christmas.

I also wish to be associated with the remarks in respect of Private Seán Rooney. I pass on my own sympathies not only to his family and friends, but also his colleagues who were present in Lebanon with him. I wish the soldier who was injured a speedy recovery. I hope he will make a full recovery. It must have been very traumatic for all of the soldiers serving on the peacekeeping mission to be attacked last evening. I pass on my sympathies.

I would be remiss of me not to comment on the report launched by consultants this morning on hospital waiting lists and the failure to meet targets, especially in two hospitals in Limerick and Cork. We will have a new Leader in the new year but I will certainly call for a debate on this matter early in the new year. We are now in a cold snap and many people have been admitted to hospital. Some have had to wait up to 60 hours, which is not acceptable.We need a meaningful debate in the new year around hospitals, the winter plan and how we will tackle waiting lists.

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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I want to recap the year I have had in here. Some of it has been good and some not so good. One of the best things was the coffee morning we had here on 9 March in solidarity with Ukraine. Some 35 ambassadors came in to show solidarity with the Ukrainian ambassador. We raised over €13,000 for the Red Cross that morning. Then we had the surrogacy committee. Although I might not have got a mention here yesterday, I believe I contributed the alternative voice at that committee. It is important to hear other voices in this Chamber and that it is not just an echo chamber for one voice.

I want to remember the Creeslough community. They face one of the toughest Christmases they will ever face. It is their first Christmas since the tragedy. I am thinking of those families this morning and of my colleague, Senator Buttimer, who will not have his dad this year, Senator Fitzpatrick, who will not have her dad, Dermot, and our colleague, Bridget, in the Seanad office, whose brother, Pat, passed away. Remember all of those who have an empty chair at their table this Christmas. We think of them.

I thank Martin, Bridget and all the team in the Seanad Office. They have been spectacular. I thank the ushers, the catering staff and the cleaners. I think I gave Alan Ruane a heart attack when I said in March that we had 35 ambassadors coming. I did not realise there was a massive protocol around that but, thankfully, he obliged. I thank the Library and Research Department for all the briefings they give us. They are fantastic. I thank my staff, Grainne, Mark, Robert and Shauna, the staff in my Duleek office, Caroline and Vani, and my two councillors. They keep the whole show going. It is important we look after our people on the ground. I wish all my colleagues in the Seanad a happy and peaceful Christmas. We look forward to robust and respectful debates, please God, next year.

Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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I echo the expressions of sympathy for the late Private Seán Rooney, his family and the wider Óglaigh na hÉireann community, which is a close-knit community. Private Kearney and the other soldiers who were injured must also be in our thoughts. Ireland has a proud tradition in peacekeeping and is the only county that has taken part in every UN peacekeeping mission. That is something of which we are very proud. When somebody gives his life in this way, it is right the nation should remember him.

Colleagues spoke of what they would like for Christmas. I am delighted that the Order Paper contains a motion on Ireland's membership of the European Council for Nuclear Research, CERN. I do not think there could be a greater Christmas present for Ireland's research community than for us to finally look at joining arguably the world's greatest scientific body. Working with the Leader, I hope we will see this happen in the new year. I am glad that the motion will be carried. I trust the Leader will sent it on to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris. I hope that in his last act before whatever happens on Saturday, the Minister might push the matter a little further.

I echo the comments in praise of the Leader's work and leadership in this Chamber and of that of the Deputy Leader. They have provided leadership in terms of ensuring that we work collectively and have gone out on a limb at times in order to make sure that our voices are heard. That is appreciated.

The Cathaoirleach has been extraordinarily innovative in what he has done in the past couple of years. I hope the new Cathaoirleach will continue with that spirit of innovation and use this Chamber in an imaginative way, and that we will look at and implement elements of Seanad reform.

I thank Martin, Bridget and all of the Seanad staff, the ushers and everyone who works in Leinster House, including those who transcribe what we say. When we read it back, we often appear far more eloquent than perhaps we are on the floor of these Houses.

Senator Keogan is right that this will be a difficult Christmas. In many ways, however, it will be the first normal Christmas in three years. There are things we take for granted but we can appreciate them much more this year. I echo the wishes for everybody to have a happy Christmas and a peaceful new year.

Tim Lombard (Fine Gael)
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I commend the Cathaoirleach. He has had a competent and capable two and a half years. It has to be acknowledged that the House has worked really well. The Leader and Deputy Leader have managed the show appropriately, and it has been a pleasure to work with them. It has been a good experience. It all comes down to teamwork. The Seanad staff are the most brilliant team one could ever deal with. It is a privilege to deal with them. I acknowledge Martin and the team for all they have done.

This is a sad morning because of the passing of an Irish soldier abroad in tragic circumstances. Only last week I had the privilege of having the Irish Army in Bandon at a Sean Hayes commemoration. People there spoke of the pride they have in the uniform and in what they do. This will rock them to their foundations. I offer my deepest sympathy to the Army and to the family of the private lost in the past 24 hours.

The next three or four months, from a business point of view, could be a major issue for us. Businesses in my part of the world are deeply upset and offended regarding a rate increase of 3.5% in Cork county. This increase in the commercial rate, on top of energy prices, labour and everything else going through the roof, will have a huge impact on their survival. It is about cash flow for the next three months. These are mainly pubs and restaurants. They envisage the next three months will be really tight and are looking to the Government to do things like warehouse taxes such as VAT to give them the opportunity to breathe. They will have a good summer, but they need to get there. We need a debate on how to put approaches and infrastructure in place so they can get over spring. That will be a struggle for them. I am not being political but anyone who thought it was a good idea to increase the rate by 3.5% in County Cork was mad. The industries are on their knees and the last thing they need is a rate increase across the board.

I commend the councillors who voted against it. It was a brave decision to vote against the management but they did it. Logic has to play out. We cannot put more burden on these communities that will be struggling. I fear what will happen in the next three months. We are a tourism operation. The Chair's part of the world and Cork South-West are basically the same in that respect. We will have a quiet spring. An increase in the rate and an inability to warehouse taxes could have a huge impact. If we come back in January, the first debate needed is with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, about the plan in place for the next three months to make sure that these industries survive.

I wish everyone a happy Christmas. It is our first proper Christmas in years.. I am looking forward to it. I have six-year-old twins who have not stopped jumping up and down. Santa Claus is coming and it is wonderful. It is great that we are back out there and that life has really kicked off again.

Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael)
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I offer sympathies to the family of Seán Rooney, a young man of 23. The young men and women who have joined the Irish Defence Forces, Óglaigh na hÉireann, have taken on the mantle, responsibility and weight of representing Ireland and wearing the Irish flag abroad, as this young man did. We need to remember it is a sacrifice given on behalf of Ireland. We in the Houses of the Oireachtas should pay tribute to and acknowledge what has been done in our name and Ireland's name. I thank the Leader, Senator Doherty, who has managed the role so well for the past number of years. As a brand-new Senator, I have got to see how everything works, from the flow of legislation through to accommodating all Senators and groups, engaging through statements and motions and having the opportunity to speak on the topics of concern to us. I also acknowledge the Deputy Leader, Senator Chambers, and the Cathaoirleach, Senator Mark Daly, who allows us to speak and gives us a little leeway with time here and there, and also the Leas-Chathaoirleach, Senator Joe O'Reilly, who has done an excellent job.

This year has flown. I thank all Senators for their support and the staff of the Houses and the staff in my office at home. I wish everyone a happy Christmas. We talk about our Christmas wish list. For me, it is being able to seeing the amount of legislation we are able to enact in law and the ground-breaking changes we are making. Just today, we saw legislation on maternity leave for councillors. I think of the changes we make daily, such as what Senator Seery Kearney has been able to do on surrogacy. As Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas and the committees, we are part of change and I am really proud to be part of that.

John McGahon (Fine Gael)
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I will talk about Private Seán Rooney. As can happen in sad situations like this, there has been a slight bit of misinformation in the national media which indicated he was a native of Donegal. Private Rooney was born and bred in Dundalk. He attended the Gaelscoil Muirtheimhne Mór and St. Mary’s College in Dundalk. His mum relocated to Donegal when he was in fifth year and he moved to Donegal for two or three years before coming back to Dundalk to serve in the Defence Forces, in the 27th Battalion. This is a dreadful day for many people in the local community, not only in Dundalk but in the Defence Forces and the wider country. Private Rooney has made the ultimate sacrifice in his service to the nation. He served in the 27th Battalion, which is based in Aiken Barracks in Dundalk. It is the same battalion in which Private Michael McNeela was serving when he died in Lebanon in 1989. I know I can speak on behalf of the House to an extent in saying we send all our thoughts and sympathies to Private Rooney's grandparents, Eugene and Rachel, all of his friends at home in Dundalk and the Defence Forces who are suffering immensely today. Let us get him back safely and take him to his home country and town in order that we can offer our sympathies in person.

Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)
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On this sombre day, I also pay tribute to Private Seán Rooney who tragically lost his life as a peacemaker. As Senator Malcolm Byrne said, he was part of our UNIFIL peacekeeping mission. We give thanks for Private Rooney and sympathise with his family. As Senator McGahon rightly and eloquently said, let us bring him home so that we can celebrate his life. We sympathise with his family and think of the injured soldiers who were with him as well.

This morning, the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, published a report on emergency departments in Cork University Hospital and University Hospital Limerick. It gives none of us any pleasure to ask that the Minister for Health come to the House as a matter of urgency for a debate on emergency department service provision in our acute hospitals. At a time when the health budget is €23 billion and we have increased the number of beds, including acute beds, in our hospitals, we see gridlock. More telling, HIQA is saying patients are not safe from harm. That is not good enough in a modern hospital system in Ireland. I ask that the Minister for Health come to the House in the new year.

On a positive note, I join Members in commending and thanking members of staff across the parliamentary community for their work and assistance to us during the year, especially the ushers, the men and women on sound recording and in the Debates Office who make us sound and look better, and Martin Groves, Bridget Doody and all the team in the Seanad Office. I also thank the Cathaoirleach for the patience and tolerance he has shown us in the Chamber and the very equitable manner in which he has selected Commencement matters.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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It is a very sad day, as most speakers have mentioned. Private Seán Rooney has lost his life in the line of duty. We salute what he has achieved and we mourn with his family as a nation. We also wish Private Shane Kearney well on his road to recovery. Please God, his recovery will happen and will be swift.

Like others, I commend the Cathaoirleach. As I have told him privately on a number of occasions, he has been innovative and pushed the boundaries. Seanad 100 could not have been any better. I do not think anything could have been done differently or any better in that regard. One could not but have been proud to be here on Monday, seeing all the former Members and members of the diplomatic corps give dignified recognition to the people who served for the last 100 years in a House that has contributed so much to Irish society and created such equalities in the legislation introduced here over many decades. It was a fitting tribute. Well done to the Cathaoirleach and all involved.

I also thank Martin Groves and Bridget Doody for the sterling work they and their team do for us in the Seanad. The members of the parliamentary community across all sections do a wonderful job. They show enormous patience and give us great support and advice. They are, in many ways, a parliamentary family as much as a parliamentary community. With Christmas here, everyone will get a break and we wish them every happiness. For those who lost loved ones over the course of the year, we are thinking of them in their first Christmas without their loved one.

The Leader has done a fantastic job over the last two and a half years in responding and facilitating Senators and getting Ministers into the House to be held accountable. That is what we can do in this House and the Leader facilitates bringing Ministers in, sometimes at short notice, to address issues of national importance. We have had many of them here over the last couple of years. We have been through a pandemic, a health crisis. We have had Ministers for Health here and other Ministers being held accountable to the Seanad. I hope that will continue and I have no doubt it will under the new Leader and Cathaoirleach.

I thank colleagues for their friendship and support. I commend them on the great work they do across the House. We are a diverse Chamber of many abilities. All those abilities combined is what makes Seanad Éireann the great, progressive and positive Chamber it is. When everyone has had a break and we are back here in January, I hope we will continue with, develop, improve and enhance the work we do, which will ultimately help the people of Ireland.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I welcome to the Gallery some very special guests. The Kearney family are more than welcome. I thank them for coming. David Seery Kearney has a special interest in the House, as Senator Seery Kearney’s husband. The Senator's daughter-in-law Rosemary Kearney is also here, as are her grandchildren Eoin and Luke. I thank them for coming. We are excited and delighted to have them here. I call Senator Seery Kearney who is doing extraordinary work in Seanad Éireann.

Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach. I welcome everyone. This is an extraordinary moment for me.

I begin by expressing my sympathy to Private Seán Rooney’s family and friends and the family of Private Shane Kearney who are no doubt frightened and desperate to see their family member. To all our peacekeepers in Óglaigh na hÉireann, I express my sympathies today. It is a very sombre day for us as a nation.

I acknowledge that this is the last Order of Business of the year. I assume I will have an opportunity tomorrow to express my deep appreciation for the Cathaoirleach.In case I am not afforded that opportunity, I thank him most sincerely. He has guided the Seanad through Covid, which was quite extraordinary. Many of us were new Senators. I have found him to be incredibly helpful, from the texts I have exchanged with him and the requests I have made of him to the most recent occasion when I relied on his extensive knowledge of the protocols around the Irish Flag. Hopefully, this has been instrumental in bringing about change. I will elaborate on that in the new year. In every way, I have found him to be incredibly inclusive. On a personal note, he has given me very sensitive latitude when I have needed it, for which I am very grateful.

I thank the Leader. I will say more about her tomorrow as we do a changing of the guard. I express my thanks to everyone who works around the Seanad and makes it happen. If I start listing them, I fear who would be left out. I really appreciate all the incredible hard work that is done around this House.

One of the things I learned this year concerns the need to hear all voices, including opposing voices. We quite often cross swords in this Chamber and outside it. It is really important that all voices are heard. In expressing divergent opinions, it is important that we are always respectful and compassionate and have empathy for the journey of the people with whom we may have a difference of opinion. I hope that in the year to come, we will debate the surrogacy legislation in the context of the entirety of the assisted human reproduction Bill. Thankfully, due to the Cabinet decision this week, there will be a section that will include international surrogacy. It is really important in that debate that there is a sensitivity to the fact that when we use crude terminology, we are demonising existing children in this State, their families and their terribly hard journeys. The children who were demonised this year, in the crude language that was sometimes used, included my daughter Scarlett. I will stand up for my right not to acknowledge the participation of an individual who was a party to doing that. I look forward to the debate. I look forward to the diversity. I think it will be a very good experience for us as a House. We must always proceed with great respect for the people whose lives are affected by the fact that we have the privilege of public office to stand up and speak.

Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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I join in expressing condolences to the young peacekeeper who lost his life and the peacekeeper who was injured in the service of the UN and a more peaceful world. That is a very sad thing. He was undertaking very important work.

It is wonderful to hear such pride in the Seanad and what it has been historically. This year's Seanad 100 events have given us a chance to look at what it has been, what it is and what it might be, particularly if we move towards Seanad reform and crafting even more possibilities into the future. I commend Seanad 100 and the work that went into it by the Cathaoirleach, the Seanad team, the communications team and everybody across the House. I also thank the staff of the Seanad Office, the ushers, the transcribers and the translators. I join those who have thanked the Cathaoirleach for his really ambitious, committed and dedicated work for the Seanad over the past two and a half years, particularly over the past year. I also thank the Leader, who has worked in a collegiate and constructive manner with us as leaders of other groups throughout this period. We have had a shared goal for the Seanad and its role being recognised, actualised and expressed. I think that has been really important.

I note the launch of the final report of the Joint Committee on Gender Equality, which is really exciting. It is not just a report; it is an action plan. It sets out an action plan with real timelines. I feel this is one of the proudest moments I have had in my time in the Seanad because we have something that looks to how our Constitution could reflect all families, recognise care inside and outside the home and, instead of having discriminatory language in it, have equality and non-discrimination at its centre. It is really exciting. The transformative proposals for having the idea of publicly supported and serviced care throughout every part of our State system - from collective bargaining, our political system and our budgeting system through to the shift in the social protection system - are also exciting. I know we will get to debate the report's recommendations properly in the new year. The recommendations would make for a better Ireland that reflects and serves all of its citizens better. I am very proud to be part of that report. I hope we will have the opportunity to debate it thoroughly in the new year.

Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael)
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I echo the comments of my fellow Members and extend my sympathies to the family of the late Private Seán Rooney. I come from a constituency that used to have three barracks in Mullingar, Longford and Athlone, with Custume Barracks in Athlone being the main barracks. There is a very strong military history in the area. A lot of service has been given to the Defence Forces from people in my county. I extend my sympathies to his family, colleagues and those serving overseas, including my cousin who is abroad with the Defence Forces. I wish those who were injured a speedy recovery.

Last week, the Cathaoirleach concurred with me when I wished Longford Slashers ladies football team well. I want to report that they were very successful on Saturday in Croke Park. The first all-Ireland club GAA title to be won by a County Longford team was brought home last Saturday night to Longford town by the Longford Slashers ladies team. It was a huge occasion both in Croke Park, where I was with my son, and in Longford town that night. We might be a small county but we like to bat above our level regularly. I say "well done" to them - onwards and upwards.

When I walk into Leinster House every day, I am extremely proud and honoured to be a Member of the Oireachtas. When I come in the door, I look at the Proclamation on the left hand side. It states that we need to honour "all the children of the nation equally". I have spoken about this previously. To me, a child born to a family through surrogacy is a child of our nation and it is important that we cherish him or her equally. I support the comments of Senator Seery Kearney and once again, congratulate her on the work she has done.

I assume we might get an opportunity tomorrow to say more about the Leader and the Cathaoirleach. I thank them for the support they have given to me, particularly in respect of my role in looking to get the Committee on Autism set up. They provided support behind the scenes to make sure that happened. The committee has made a lot of changes already, even without our report being finished next March. It has brought the subject to the national agenda, has stimulated a discussion and more acceptance of young adults or children with autism, and has rocked the system a bit to start making changes at third level, at primary level and through to section 37A, with more to come. I thank the Cathaoirleach and the Leader for their support not just for me but also for children and young adults throughout the country and their families to make sure this happens. I look forward to working with them in the term ahead. I thank Martin, Bridget and all the staff and ushers throughout Leinster House. It is an honour every day I walk in the door to deal with the excellent staff throughout the building, in the canteen and elsewhere. It is a joy to be here, to represent the people of Longford-Westmeath and to work here with good colleagues across all parties.

Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail)
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Today, I think of the family and friends of Private Seán Rooney from County Donegal, who lost his life in the service of our country overseas. I live in the constituency of Dublin Central. We have McKee Barracks on Blackhorse Avenue, with which the Leader will be familiar. We also have the headquarters of the Irish United Nations Veterans Association on Arbour Hill. These are people who give of their lives selflessly. Obviously, the ultimate sacrifice was made last night. My thoughts and deepest sympathies and condolences go to Private Rooney's family and friends and all who served with him. My thoughts also go to Private Shane Kearney. I hope he makes a speedy recovery. One soldier came from County Donegal and the other is from Killeagh in County Cork; they were from both ends of the country. My grandmother came from Killeagh. I have two young sons. When one sees those photographs, it is really heartbreaking. I thank them for their service and express my deepest sympathies.

I thank everybody in the Houses, both the Dáil and the Seanad, from all parties and none, who supported and continue to support the campaign that is being led by the 1916 Relatives Association to have the new children's hospital named after Dr. Kathleen Lynn. The campaign, which is supported by the National Women's Council of Ireland, Fórsa, SIPTU and politicians on all sides, is born out of a desire to honour and celebrate a woman who was a revolutionary, patriot, disrupter and belligerent. She was passionate. She saw things that did not exist. She was a qualified medical doctor who believed passionately in social justice. She brought medicine to women and children at a time when that could not even be imagined. She is a woman who transcends time and her legacy is one we can all be proud of and aspire to into the future. I thank everybody who has supported the campaign and who welcomed its representatives to the Oireachtas yesterday.

I particularly thank the Leader, the Cathaoirleach, our leader, Senator Chambers, Martin Groves, Bridget Doody and all the staff who give us, myself included, the opportunity to serve here and have the privilege of participating in our democracy at this level. Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir. I wish everyone a merry Christmas.

Regina Doherty (Fine Gael)
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I thank colleagues for all their expressions of sympathy. We join together this morning to remember Private Seán Rooney.

I acknowledge Senator Fitzpatrick's involvement in the campaign to have our hospital named after Dr. Kathleen Lynn, who certainly was an incredibly impressive person. I thank the Senator for that.

To Senator Carrigy I say bualadh bos to Longford Slashers Ladies GFA. I wish them continued success. I have a feeling this is only the start of great things.

Senators Higgins and Chambers both acknowledged the launch of the Joint Committee on Gender Equality's report entitled Unfinished Democracy: Achieving Gender Equality. The report contains 40-plus recommendations in respect of which we have put timelines in order that we can keep people in check. I really hope we do keep them in check. Commitments have been made not only by the Taoiseach and Tánaiste but also by all the Ministers across the line Departments who need to shake things up to make sure that we see an equal future for our women and girls very soon.

Senators Buttimer and Maria Byrne both asked for debates on emergency departments, particularly those in Limerick and Cork, and the HIQA report after Christmas. I am sure the new Leader will organise that.

I thank Deputy Malcolm Byrne, who prepared the motion on today's Order Paper seeking for us to join the European Organization for Nuclear Research, CERN. Not everybody will recognise that although the names on the list are wide and varied, Senator Malcolm Byrne wrote the vast majority of the motion, otherwise it would not have been ready today's Order Paper. I acknowledge his commitment. I will certainly prod the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in the hip to see whether we can get him to spend the very small amount of money needed before Christmas in order that we might bring the matter to fruition.

Senator Murphy spoke about the continuing saga of the imprisonment of Mr. Robert Pether. Mr. Pether's wife, Desree, contacts me nearly every day, if not every second day. Things at this time of year are always heightened emotionally for us whether it is grief or otherwise. Desree is watching her husband deteriorate in front of her eyes and her two children having to grow up without their father. I am told that we are doing everything we can. Somehow, it just does not feel like we are doing everything we can when we are watching a man wasting away. I want to tell Desree that he is in our thoughts and that we will continue to keep working on her behalf.

I thank Senator Black for acknowledging the Dr. Kathleen Lynn campaign.

Senator Ó Donnghaile spoke not only about the Unfinished Democracy: Achieving Gender Equality report and its ambitions but also the need for a referendum on Articles 40 and 41 of the Constitution. It would be a very good time for us to have the referendum around extending the franchise to the presidential elections as we committed to do in the programme for Government.

I acknowledge Senator Boyhan's poignant review of the letter by little Ivan. When he brought it up a couple of weeks ago, it really got us all in the gut that this little boy has the choice of anything in the letter he wrote to Santa, because we all know Santa brings whatever children ask for in their letters in most cases. All Ivan wants is his daddy home and electricity. These are things we take so much for granted that we do not even think about them. There are families in Ireland at the moment who are worried about paying their electricity bills. Most people in this country do not have to worry about not being able to turn on the lights when they get up in the morning or about having frightened children. Sometimes, we need that reality check. Senator Boyhan was very right to commend the agencies and, indeed, all the Irish citizens who extended such an enormous welcome. Particularly in the last number of weeks, all those people who are lucky enough to have holiday homes offered them to some of the thousands of people who are still living in hotels. I want to point out that when Senator Boyhan said some of the 75,000 Ukrainians that are here will want to stay, we would absolutely be damn lucky if they did want to stay. I want to put that on the record.

Senator Kyne asked for me to raise Iran's despicable human rights records with the ambassador, which I will be very happy to do today.

Senator Chambers opened proceedings by commending Deputy Bacik, who is a wonderful role model for women, particularly young women who would like to get into politics. She really can show us that it is possible to do it all. I acknowledge her contribution to this House and to the Dáil.

I thank the Cathaoirleach for steering us over the past two and a half years. The running of this House is an example of his commitment. The way he changed things and shaped the House around his personality is to be commended. I particularly thank him for the role he played in the Seanad 100 celebrations. It was such a pleasure to work with him to achieve the outcomes so efficiently. We had a number of presentations, particularly on Monday which, unfortunately, I had to watch from my bed because I was smothering. It was a wonderful event to watch, however. I will put on record that while the Taoiseach's and everybody else's contributions were lovely, Dr. John Bowman is a class act. He was absolutely wonderful on Monday. I will write to him on all of our behalf to thank him for the wisdom and wit he added to the occasion.

A number of years ago, we would have considered that the walls of these Houses were adorned mostly by the portraits of men who made contributions to public life over the past 100 years, and rightly so. I am not trying to brush them out. For a lot of the time, however, the women who played equal roles have been brushed out. There are now 200-plus women on the walls of Leinster House, and that is down to the Cathaoirleach. I thank him, because it means a lot. Sometimes, these things are seen outside as being kind of silly and trivial. Being seen and being present both really mean a lot. I thank the Cathaoirleach for that important contribution.

Sharon Keogan (Independent)
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Hear, hear.

Regina Doherty (Fine Gael)
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I thank our Leas-Chathaoirleach, Senator Joe O'Reilly. He is a wonderful personality and really has added to the engagement in the past number of years. I wish him well.

Like others, I wish Martin , Bridget, all of the other clerks and all the staff in the Seanad Office. This House is run in a meticulous manner and that is down to the wisdom and commitment of the team. I thank them. Likewise, I thank Orla, who works in my office. We call Orla "the Leader's office" because that is what she is. There is nobody else but Orla. Apart from being a thoroughly beautiful human being, she is professional to her fingertips. I do not mean “professional” in the sense of working within the bubble of what one particular Department wants to do. Rather, she is a realist, and her advice and wisdom are so grounding. I thank her for all her work. She is one of the most efficient people I have ever had the privilege of working with.

As for the ushers, our cleaning and catering staff, I have been a Member of these Houses, thankfully, for 11 years, and I have always felt as though they must have been handpicked because they are so wonderful, accommodating, kind and bloody damn good at their jobs. I thank them all and wish them well.

This is the final normal Order of Business during my time as Leader of Seanad Éireann. It is a great privilege to have followed in the footsteps of people such as Maurice Manning, Gemma Hussey and, of course, my good pal, Senator Buttimer. When I was appointed on 27 June 2020, the first sitting was to be held on 29 June at the convention centre. An awful lot of the commentary from colleagues was probably was not complimentary, and rightly so. It concerned the role I had played in the 2013 referendum and, critically, it was probably justified. I very much hope that in the past two and a half years, colleagues from all sides of the House have seen not only the enormous respect I have for the Seanad as an institution and for the value of what it can and does do, but also the respect I have for individual Members and all the parties and groups, including those in opposition. I believe it is a privilege not only to be in public life but to have the opportunity to shape and interrogate legislation and make it better, which is what we are here to do, and that includes our own legislation. I hope Senators have seen that respect through my actions and deeds in recent years because I truly believe the Seanad is a far more thoughtful, and much less partisan and gimmicky, place than the Dáil can be at times, with its name calling and shape throwing. I thank them all for their co-operation.

As an example of that, my attitude to the Air Navigation and Transport Bill 2020 probably raised a few eyebrows, with Senators wondering what the hell I was at, but it took more than 13 months to go through this House. With the co-operation of both Opposition and Government colleagues, we made tremendous changes to it and it was a far better Bill when it left this House than when it had arrived here from the Dáil. That is the power and value of this House. The co-operation and collegiality mean we can work to the same outcome, regardless of our colours or creed, and that is powerful. A significant statement, which speaks for itself, is that when that Bill, which took more than 13 months for us to deliberate on here, left this House it took nine minutes to be passed in Dáil Éireann. That is the difference between Seanad Éireann and Dáil Éireann and that is why the Seanad should never again be challenged but only be improved on.

I hope I have been fair and approachable. When I came here, I was probably an argumentative auld bag, but I think that was because that was what I was used to being. I was used to arguing combatively and constantly fighting against the Opposition but there is no need for that most of the time. Ultimately, we all want the same outcome, namely, a better country, a better society and an equal and just society for all our citizens. I hope I played my little part in that regard over recent years and I thank Senators for their friendship and co-operation and for their thanks today. It is nice to be nice. I wish them, their families and all our staff a very happy and peaceful Christmas. By God, this one will definitely be meaningful.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Leader for her kind words and especially for her leadership in what have been some of the most challenging times I have seen in my 15 years in this House. We forget about all the rules that had to be changed because of Covid and about the agreement that had to be secured, without ever having a vote by all the Senators, in respect of the dramatic changes to our structures, not only regarding the debates but also the votes themselves, which caused no end of concern. We were concerned at times about where we would be allowed to vote in our own Chamber, and it was only through the work of all the party and group leaders and many long hours of debate that we managed to navigate that without any discordance. Senator Doherty's leadership ensured that all worked and that everybody managed to come to a consensus as to how we could navigate that start, which was fairly traumatic in its own right for what were many new Members and which was not normal, as they have learned.

Despite endless meetings of the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight, which had much debate on a lot of issues, I am delighted to say those issues never went anywhere, which is always a great sign of a committee working together. Without that, little would be done and people would not be able to express their views. That was down to Senator Doherty's leadership in the Seanad over the past two and a half years, and for that, I am grateful to have worked with her along with the Deputy Leader, Senator Chambers. They have been a great team and they have worked well together. Likewise, the leaders of the other parties and groups, Senators Pauline O'Reilly, Ó Donnghaile, Higgins, Boyhan and Moynihan, have worked very well together. What is great is that just two of the parties and groups are led by men and the rest by women. Indeed, all the Senators work together very well and the party Whips have the extraordinarily tough job of keeping the show on the road.

I thank also Martin, Bridget and all the catering staff, ushers and everybody who works so well here, including the Leader's Orla, who does great work behind the scenes. The Leader's office can be a like an air traffic control tower and, as she said, Orla is the office. Similarly, Grace in my office is my air traffic control, and she managed to squeeze five years' work into the past two and a half years. It has been a privilege to serve with the Leader and all Members of the Seanad. Over the past two and a half years, many people have lost loved ones, so we think of them and, of course, Seán Rooney's family.