Happy Christmas.

I agree with Senator Máire Devine and extend my compliments to the public and private sector workers who will be working over the Christmas period in Limerick and other areas. Senator David Norris referred to intelligence. I thought, given the large influx of females into the House, that average intelligence would have been brought way up. I thought he would have reflected on the matter.

Smaller brains.

Obviously, there are-----

I am sorry, but I cannot hear Senator Kieran O'Donnell because Radio Luxembourg is butting in.

I refer to rents. I am glad to see that common sense has prevailed in the Dáil and that the Bill will be debated later today and tomorrow. My area, Limerick city, has not been included, but I would have liked it to have been. I have spoken to the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Simon Coveney, about the matter. He has agreed that it will be prioritised. There is a long way to go. We do not always need to talk to Fianna Fáil; we can actually talk among ourselves. The Residential Tenancies Board has been charged with providing evidence. I have asked the Minister to fast-track the evidence. I hope Limerick city will be included quite quickly and that the timeframe for the inclusion of other areas will be virtually coterminous.

I second the amendment to the Order of Business proposed by Senator Mark Daly whom I commend for his achievement in tabling the motion.

It is a pity that Senator David Norris was not asked to speak before Senators Kevin Humphreys and James Reilly. I will forgive Senator Tim Lombard because he is new to the House. The word "intelligence" was used by Senator David Norris. If it had been used prior to the contributions of those Senators, perhaps he might have been intelligent enough not to speak. If we want to rehearse history and the economic downturn, we can and have no difficulty in so doing. Senator Kevin Humphreys and what is left of his party were in government for five years and the people gave their verdict.

For five years the Senator's party, predominantly, talked about my party and what it had done to the economy. The people are brighter and more intelligent than that and gave the Government its verdict. Any day the Senator's party wants to come into this House to debate the issue my party will do so. We have no difficulty in doing so.

It is welcome that the Committee on Procedure and Privileges has agreed that any Member of this House can come in and read from a script. Not all of us have had an opportunity to lecture big crowds, participate in television programmes or take to the stage as Senator David Norris and other individuals have done. In particular, I am delighted for one reason, that is, for the 35 or so people who are employed by Sinn Féin. I do not want to see them disappear and lose their jobs. If they have to be employed, so be it. I am glad to see them employed. It is welcome-----