I apologise, but it was brought to my attention that there was a long-lost cousin of mine in the Visitors Gallery and I just wanted to say hello.

I second the amendment to the Order of Business by my colleague, Senator Paschal Mooney. I support my colleagues who have spoken on the incidents that occurred outside Leinster House yesterday. Intolerant, undemocratic and fascist is how the former Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, described what happened yesterday outside this House to him, to colleagues in this House and to members of the public, which was totally unacceptable. Accompanied by a colleague from this House and a gentleman who was in with me on other business, we decided to go out at 3 p.m. to get a cup of coffee. Through no fault of his own, that gentleman happens to be fairly large in size and as we were passing a group of approximately 150 protestors, they started shouting, "We are paying to feed him." That was said. Thankfully, he did not notice it, but I did. Those are the types of individuals who were outside of Leinster House. I am sorry if some feel that is funny but as I am concerned, it is certainly not funny nor is it for the gentleman concerned who, thankfully, did not pay much notice to it.

It certainly is not.

It is totally unacceptable that these people who claim to believe in democracy do not have much time for the democratically elected Members of this House. While acknowledging that at least 50% of the people outside were genuine and believed in what they were there for, I would say to those thugs who already have their representatives in the other House, who I have no difficulty in naming - Deputies Paul Murphy, Ruth Coppinger, Richard Boyd Barrett, Joan Collins-----

It is unfair to refer to Members in another House.

It is fair.

It is a roll of honour.

They have already got their elected representatives in the other House-----

They do not represent the IRSP, Éirigí or any of those.

-----who were not satisfied with trying to undermine the State in the other House without trying to subvert democracy in this House.

That is a matter for the other House.

It is a fact.

It is unfair to name Members of the other House who are not here to defend themselves.

With respect, it is not unfair to name people who were inciting hatred and violence outside Leinster House yesterday.

That is an unfair charge to make.

It is time we stood up and said what exactly is going on in this country or it will be too late for us. As I was leaving, having been prevented from leaving Leinster House for two and a half hours last night, there was a small group holding the flag of the nation shouting abuse at me and photographing me as I left.

The Senator has made his point.

I have made my point forcefully.

I pay tribute to the members of An Garda Síochána, especially the sergeant in charge, Sergeant Gavin O'Reilly, who had to deal with a lot of abuse yesterday that they should not have had to put up with. I acknowledge exactly what my colleague, Senator Paschal Mooney, said about the child care protesters.

Well said.