I wish to propose an amendment to the Order of Business to the effect that No. 11, the Defence (Veterans Lapel Badge) Bill 2017 - First Stage, be taken before No. 1. I ask the Leader to consider my request.

I congratulate Senator Feighan for organising a delegation to the House of Commons and House of Lords over the past two days of which I had the privilege of being part. Incentives such as that organised by Senator Feighan are so important in light of Brexit. The discussions we had with the Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords left us far better clued into what is going on in Westminster.

Colleagues such as Senators Coghlan and Feighan and various others left the British MPs we met and the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Boris Johnson, in no doubt as to what the Irish people want and expect from Brexit, as well as the protection of our country and our interests.

He had no solutions, however.

Senator Coghlan is correct; he had no solutions. We certainly did not hear any solutions, which means events such as those organised by Senator Feighan are of the utmost importance. There needs to be far greater engagement. I congratulate and thank Senator Feighan on his efforts. The administration behind getting people there and the amount of work in setting up meetings with all the political parties in the UK must have been phenomenal.

I also congratulate the Taoiseach for having the courage to walk into the Dáil yesterday wearing the Irish poppy, the funds from which support Irish veterans and Irish people who served in the British forces and who are in need of support these days. The Taoiseach is to be congratulated on this. It was not an easy thing for anybody to do.

I thank the Senator for all his congratulations. I call on Senator Gavan.