I welcome the appointment of Mr. Justice Peter Kelly as President of the High Court. As Members are aware, he is an able and most distinguished judge and I believe no more able or fitting person could be found for the post. He will bring tremendous leadership to the role, as he already has brought to the Commercial Court in his time there, when he pioneered some great work. I believe no one has proved his worth as much as has this man in the role of judge. Consequently, I greatly welcome the appointment and wish him well.

I am delighted that Senator David Norris referred to that grossly inaccurate piece which appeared in the centre page of yesterday's edition of the Irish Independent. One would swear to God that all Members were drinking until the wee hours of the morning every night.

The Senator should never believe anything he reads in the Irish Independent.

Every night in both bars. My experience here in recent years has been that Members use the Members' Bar mainly for teas, coffees, scones, lunches and so on. While I am not normally there at closing time, I believe the bars close at what would be considered to be normal hours. As to where the journalist got this, I note that the facts she had were not facts; they were completely wrong about the number of Senators who are elected on panels and so on. She should check her facts before she writes further about this House or the other House.

It was rubbish. It was beneath journalism.

Absolutely correct. The Senator is quite right.

The Senator should stop buying it then.

I would not give her any publicity.

There must be a spy in the bar.

Renamed the coffee shop.

I do not know because the bar is not open at the hour she was claiming. We will leave it at that. The Senator is quite right.