I thank the 24 Senators who contributed to the Order of Business, the vast majority of whom paid tribute to our outgoing Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny. Together with the Cathaoirleach and all the Members of House, I extend, on my own behalf, on that of the Fine Gael Party and on that of the House, our every good wishes to An Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, to his wife, Fionnuala, and to his family, Naoise, Ferdia and Aoibhinn, on their historic contribution to public service in our country. When history is written and the analysis of the past six years and decade are looked back on, the name of Enda Kenny will stand brightly, with him being regarded as a man of honesty, integrity, humility, compassion and empathy and a man who did our country Trojan service.

The Taoiseach spoke today in the Dáil about politics being work worth doing, and he certainly did that. He will be recognised, as has been said here today, as being perhaps one of the best taoisigh we ever had. I say that not in the sense of hyperbole or drama but he took over as Taoiseach at a time of crisis in our country. He was the man who held the Government and our country together and who helped, with our people, to bring it to recovery. That is an important tribute to the man who, as Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell quite eloquently said, has been a man of imagination and of huge energy. Whether it was at 7.30 or 3.30 in the morning, he was still going, working on behalf of all of us.

The manner in which he represented our country across the world, whether it was at European Council meetings, in the White House or on trade missions to many parts of the world, was such that he was that ambassador who represented our country with pride and with distinction. Many of us on St. Patrick's Day looked on him with pride for the way in which he spoke about immigration and the way in which he said all of us must be looked at as people.

Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell spoke about Einstein and imagination. Enda Kenny was often criticised for being a man of no vision, but he had one great vision, that of the importance of employment, of work, of people having a job and of Ireland being the best small country in the world in which to do business. I am very proud to stand here as Leader of the House and pay tribute to him and thank him not only for his service as a Member of the Lower House but for having given 42 of years of his life to public service. Equally, when we talk about patriotism, we talk about people who have vision, and history will be very kind to Enda Kenny.

Senator Leyden, in his very humorous remarks, paid tribute to Fionnuala. It is important that we thank her today not for being a member of Fianna Fáil but for having the vision and the temerity to fall in love with Enda Kenny and to join him in matrimony to see the other side - the positivity of being a member of Fine Gael. The Senator is right in saying she was and is a wonderful woman, and her family made a huge sacrifice for this country.

We will thank her for that.

I pay tribute also to the outgoing Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, and thank him for his service. He was a member of every Fine Gael-led Government since 1982. He said yesterday that he enjoyed most of all being Minister for Finance. As many of us know, he is a man held in huge affection, a man in whose company we enjoy being and who has had a strong sense of what it means to be a Minister, to be in government and where he wanted our country to go. I thank him also.

I pay tribute also to the Attorney General, as Senator Mullen rightly referenced. From my dealings with the outgoing Attorney General, I found her to be a woman of courtesy, professionalism, warmth and absolute integrity. Whenever I spoke to her or met her, I always left her with a great sense of joy and of being appreciated. She had an interest in everything we were doing in both Houses of the Oireachtas. I thank her and her family for her service as Attorney General.

Senators Ardagh, Ruane, Bacik, Mullen and Reilly raised the very sad case of the young woman who was sectioned as part of the report published. It highlights the importance of the work of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. It is important that we acknowledge the creation of that committee and allow it to do its work in a manner that is sensitive and respectful without recourse to adversarialism but that can examine the issue, as many people want to see happen, and come up with a solution that we will present to the Government. It is heartbreaking to read the reports in newspapers yesterday and today of the way this young woman, a citizen of our country, was treated and incarcerated. As Senator Mullen said, it is important to allow the committee do its work. It is premature to suggest that dates for a referendum and so on should be proposed because the committee must do its work. Equally, the investigation into what happened called for by the Senators should be carried out by the Minister for Justice and Equality or the Minister for Health because there are protocols outlined in the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act and it is important that they are fulfilled.

It is important that we get answers to what happened in this case, but it is important also that the issue that will come before the Oireachtas in the coming weeks is dealt with in a sensitive, caring and respectful manner. Regardless of people's viewpoints, we, as Members of this House, on behalf of the people who elect us, must deal with the matter and, ultimately, either put it to the people or not. That is a matter for the Houses of the Oireachtas and the people to decide. I hope that the Members will reflect upon the report of the Citizens' Assembly and read the papers given to them. Regardless of whether they agree with the outcome, a piece of work was done which was important and should be valued.

Senators Norris, Ó Donnghaile, Coffey, Feighan and Colm Burke made reference to the election that took place in the North and across the United Kingdom last week. I congratulate the MPs from all parts of the United Kingdom and the North of our country on their election. I pay tribute to them, their families, teams and parties - and Independents in some cases - for the role they played in the election of the new MPs.

I pay tribute also to the MPs in the North of our country who lost their seats. I express my disappointment at the loss of three fine Nationalist MPs, Margaret Ritchie, Alasdair McDonnell and Mark Durkan, who were exemplary representatives of the people and who carried out their work on behalf of the citizens of the North. The outcome of the election is one we all respect. The people have the final say. It is they who decide who represents them, but it is a source of concern that there is no Nationalist MP sitting in Westminster when a minority Government is in place which may be kept in power by members of the Democratic Unionist Party. At a time when we are dealing with Brexit and do not have a power-sharing Executive in the North, it is a concern that there is not that articulate Nationalist voice in Westminster. Senator Ó Donnghaile may shrug his shoulders at what I am saying, but I say it as a proud Republican and Nationalist. Abstentionism from Westminster is one thing, but Senator Feighan is correct. There is a wider forum where we must all be the voice of Irish Nationalism across the water in the United Kingdom.

They are in Dublin.

That happens in this House too. Many of us do that, but arrogance or whatever does not cut the mustard. It is important that the power-sharing Executive is restored. There is an onus on members of all parties elected to the Stormont Assembly to sit down and negotiate a return to power of the Executive.

Absolutely. We are sitting-----

The Irish Government has not been and will never be found wanting in that regard. The Fine Gael Party, which was the party that negotiated Sunningdale and is a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, will always put the people of Ireland and all of our country first in our endeavours and engagements.

Senator Ardagh raised the issue of housing.

I will be happy to have the new Minister, whoever he or she may be, come to the House in the coming weeks.

Senator Gerard P. Craughwell referred to the men of Jadotville. I join him in welcoming the announcement made by the outgoing Taoiseach and the Minister of State, Deputy Paul Kehoe, on the awarding of a medal. I thank him and Senators Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, Diarmuid Wilson and, most especially, Gabrielle McFadden for their role in ensuring this is a good day, one of celebration for the families of the men of Jadotville, the soldiers who fought in the battle. The mission to Congo, the first on which the United Nations sent Irish troops, will always be remembered, but it is important that Ireland finally remove the little black mark and congratulate all those who took part in the campaign. I again thank the outgoing Taoiseach and the Minister of State.

Senator Gerard P. Craughwell also referred to the Sale of Alcohol Bill. As he knows, I am not yet a member of the Cabinet and do not expect to be tomorrow either. I understand the amendment associated with the Good Friday Bill was passed by the Cabinet today and that it is a matter of timing. I gave a commitment as Leader of the House to have it passed before the summer recess. Whoever is Leader next week can certainly honour that commitment. It is certainly my intention to do so, if I am still Leader. If not, I hope the new Leader will do so.

Senator Paddy Burke referred to section 309 of the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill which contains a loophole in dealing with poaching. Committee Stage of the legislation was taken in March. There are issues arising and the Department is considering them. The Bill will be before the House next week. I am not sure if it dovetails with the other Bill, but I am sure the Senator can raise the matters he wishes to raise when discussing it.

Senator Michael McDowell spoke with sadness about the demise of the outgoing Taoiseach and a lack of sadness, or perhaps gaiety, about impending Seanad reform.

His retirement, not his demise.

I am sorry - retirement. The bottom line is that the issue of Seanad reform is still very much on the agenda. I believe Senator Michael McDowell's name was mentioned in dispatches in different guises before the outgoing Taoiseach left and I am not sure whether it is in the ether now. The other point is that the programme for Government is not put before the people, as the Senator knows quite well. There are differing viewpoints on the issue, but I am sure the horse that is Seanad reform will be galloping along the track in the coming weeks. Whatever jockey is on board and regardless of whether the Senator is weighed down or a lightweight, I am sure he will be able to make the case for Seanad reform.

With respect to Senator Michael McDowell, he would be an unsuitable jockey.

I will not comment on that suggestion.

I do not believe the Turf Club would allow him to be one.

Senator James Reilly referred to the community school in Lusk, for which he has been a champion in this and the Lower House. The Cathaoirleach is correct that may it be more opportune to discuss the issue as a Commencement matter.

Senator Frances Black raised the issue of inequality and referred to the work of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. It is important that we recognise the importance of the work done by the society quietly and anonymously in every community in helping and supporting people. We should all praise it.

Hear, hear.

It would be remiss of us, however, not to recognise the progress made in the country in the past six years in reducing the unemployment figures and having more people back at work and increasing the standard of living. We all accept, of course, that there is still a lot of work to be done.

Senators Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Victor Boyhan and Gerry Horkan referred to Stepaside Garda station. I am certainly not going to rain on their parade, but Senator Neale Richmond is the public representative closest to the station. It is a matter for the Cabinet and I will be happy to have the Minister for Justice and Equality come to the House to discuss it. Like the other recommendation made by the Cathaoirleach, perhaps it might be more appropriate to raise the issue as a Commencement matter. We welcome the opening of any Garda station, but it is important that Garda stations not be seen as amounting to policing and that there be community policing, with gardaí active on the ground as part of a people-centred model.

Senator Boyhan also raised the issue of tweets from Cabinet. I cannot answer for that but I am sure that if the Minister did tweet from Cabinet, we will be able to raise that. I suppose it is important to recognise that the former Taoiseach did place a ban on mobile phones in Cabinet.

He might have to "Stepaside".

Exactly.

Senator Norris congratulated Jeremy Corbyn. It is important that we congratulate all who stood for election but where Senator Norris is coming from concerns the importance of being able to campaign. What Jeremy Corbyn did quite successfully was take his message to the people. It proves that if someone shies away from debate or engagement, people look upon it as a sign of reluctance or of their being taken for granted. The political campaign across the water is one we can all learn from again. I am not quite sure whether we will have an early election but I can tell the House one thing. The leader of Fine Gael and incoming Taoiseach is a far better candidate than Jeremy Corbyn or Theresa May and I would be very happy to stand with him and run under his banner any time.

Senator Butler raised the issue of immigration and the threat of terrorism in our country. I do not want to become engaged in a disagreement with Members of the House but our language around immigration and those who come to our country is important. It is important that if people are in breach of our immigration law, they should be deported. We do not want any truck with terrorism or violence in our country but it is also important that we are seen as a harbour and place of welcome for people who need to come here for a place of refuge.

I fully agree with Senator Horkan regarding the very important issue he raised, namely, the sale of lands, particularly school playing fields, to pay debts owed to the State. We need to be very vigilant about this issue and I commend the Senator for raising that matter today in the House because it is one that we must not allow to continue at one level because these lands can be used to help and benefit young people and communities. To sell them off for whatever reason is understandable on one level but, equally, we need to keep an eye on the value to the community and the good they bring to people.

Senator Byrne raised the issue of child seats. The figure of 21,000 tests with the majority of seats being faulty is staggering in an era when more and more people are on the roads and where people are being penalised and receiving penalty points for a variety of reasons. We all welcome that and have a very strict application of our drink driving rules, which we welcome. It is important that people do not err and take chances regarding child seats. We will get the relevant Minister to come to the House to discuss this issue.

Senator Mulherin raised the very important issue of pyrite blocks and commended the former Minister of State, Senator Coffey, for his work in that regard. The Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government will come to the House to discuss that issue.

I think I have covered the majority of contributions other than the congratulations to the former Taoiseach, the Minister for Finance and the Attorney General. I propose the adjournment of the House this evening at the conclusion of business until next Tuesday given that the new Taoiseach will be elected at noon tomorrow while there are issues regarding the availability of Ministers on Thursday and a question mark around junior Ministers. I apologise to Members. I made an offer to Sinn Féin to have-----

Let us see who is getting booster seats tomorrow.

I am sure many would like to be in a booster seat around the Cabinet table. I did offer Sinn Féin-----

It is a matter of safety.

Exactly and it will be well stocked as well. I offered the second Private Members' session to Sinn Féin this evening but it declined the offer so it is my intention to have two Private Members' sessions next week. I thank the party leaders in the House, the Cathaoirleach and Seanad staff for their co-operation this week. It has been a different week. We will sit again next Tuesday but I am just informing Members that this is the rationale.