The Order of Business is No. 1, Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2016 - Order for Second Stage and Second Stage, to be taken at 12.45 p.m., with the contributions of all Senators not to exceed six minutes each.

I am sure we all congratulate the Irish soccer team on their performance last night. We all know the famous quote that sport builds character, but what is more true is that sport does not build character as much as it reveals it. What we saw last night was true grit from the Irish team to get a result. The President of Ireland has extended congratulations not only to the management and players but also to the fans who have been true ambassadors for the country. He has also extended congratulations to the other Irish team that have performed so heroically during the tournament and, equally, their fans are ambassadors for the island. On behalf of the House, will the Leader contact both managements and teams to congratulate them on reaching the last 16 in the tournament?

I raise the issue of insurance pricing, the gouging by insurance companies, the profiteering we have seen recently and the absolutely obscene demands being made. Let us take these as the facts. Since the beginning of the year there has been a 20% increase in insurance premiums. In the past 12 months they have increased by 34% and since January 2014 by 60%. If people ring an insurance company today to renew their insurance policy, they will face, at an absolute minimum, a 20% increase. That is with a full no claims bonus and a clean record. There are 2.1 million vehicles on the roads in Ireland and their owners are all required by law, as they should be, to have insurance. However, the price gouging and profiteering we have seen by insurance companies mean that we will all pay more, not only for insurance but also for the services provided by those required to have vehicles on the road to provide services for us. We do not have the 2015 figures, but we know that in 2014 the actual payouts by insurance companies compared to 2011 showed a decrease of 36%. However, we have seen insurance premiums increase by 60%. We have called for the establishment of a task force. I am sure all Senators agree that the Government needs to take action and regulate. The task force needs to examine why we have seen such price increases and what can be done about it. Is it due to the legal profession which is blamed by the insurance companies? Is it due to payments made by the Injuries Board? Is it due to overregulation? Is it due to fraud? What is the issue? There is no one answer, but one thing the House and the Government can do is to regulate the insurance industry because at this stage it is profiteering and making obscene demands which will cost us all. The House must take a leading role in challenging the industry on what is doing.

I am not a fan of soccer, but I congratulate the Irish team. It was a really splendid goal; I gather it was a header, but I was not watching the match.

The Senator's information is very good.

The result has given the entire nation a lift and I gather the President, His Excellency Michael D. Higgins, was bouncing up and down with joy. It is great to see the Head of State enjoying himself and expressing the delight of the people.

My principal reason for contributing is to propose an amendment to the Order of Business, that we take No. 6, Immigration (Reform) (Regularisation of Residency Status) Bill 2016, before No. 1.