The final word for Senator Norris.

I strongly support the comments of Senator Gavan in respect of President Trump's vicious tweet. The most sinister thing was that his spokesperson said it does not matter whether the videos are genuine or not.

I am very embarrassed but also flattered and pleased by the statements and comments of my very many generous friends in Seanad Éireann. Friendship and fun are the two things I have gotten most from the Seanad. I do not have a single enemy in the House. There are items on which Senators disagree but it would be extremely dull if we did not. However, any disagreement is discussed without any sense of partisanship.

None of this recognition would have been made if it were not for Ger Siggins as I did not know I was the longest-serving Senator but Mr. Siggins tweeted about it. It has been a great honour for me to have served with people such as Mary Robinson, Gordon Wilson, Joe O'Toole and many others, including all the current Members of the House. I served with Tras Honan, Sean Fallon as Cathaoirleach, Seán Doherty, Liam Cosgrave, Liam Naughten, who was tragically killed in a car crash, Senator Paddy Burke, who was here earlier and was a wonderful Cathaoirleach, Pat Moylan, Rory Kiely and the current Cathaoirleach, who has been one of the best Cathaoirligh because, although he comes from a Fianna Fáil background, he has shown complete political indifference and has treated everybody extremely fairly. There have been many fine Leaders of the House, including the current holder of that office, Senator Buttimer, who has done a very distinguished job. There have been other Leaders, such as Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, who I was very sorry to see have to leave ministerial office this week, and Maurice Manning, who is another very fine person.

I was glad to be in a position to help in a fairly significant way to save the Seanad. It would have been dreadful if the House had been lost. On Tuesday last the Domestic Violence Bill, which is very important legislation, went through Committee Stage in the House and Senators had a tremendous impact on it. It is now radically different and has been immensely strengthened as a result of its passage through the House. Each of the Senators representing Trinity College had amendments to the Bill accepted, which is remarkable.

I thank all Members very much. I am flattered and humbled. I had to wipe away a tear but it was a tear of laughter at the wonderfully funny things some Senators said about me. I am very honoured to have represented the graduates of Trinity College for so many years and I hope to go on doing so. I said to my very fine colleague, Senator Bacik, that I am going to reprint her glowing tribute on my next ballot paper. That might be a little unfair so I will not do it.

I have no objection.

I pay particular thanks to the Cathaoirleach and the Leader, Senator Buttimer.

Deputy Norris has been an icon during my time in the Seanad. He had difficult days under the chairmanship of the late Seán Doherty. I will not recount those days but they were-----

We had a principled disagreement and Seán Doherty did nothing about it. Other parties saw there was an opportunity to do me in but I won. However, I refused to give evidence for The Sunday Times because I would not give evidence for a newspaper owned by Rupert Murdoch against an Irish citizen. It did not end my friendship with Seán Doherty. He was remarkably witty, and certainly a rogue.

Deputy Norris is on par with him in that regard. The Leader to respond.

I thank the 22 Members who contributed and I join with all Members in commending and offering felicitations and tributes to the father of the House, Seanadóir David Norris. Ar mo shon féin agus ar son Pháirtí Fhine Gael, gabhaim buíochas leis agus déanaim comhghairdeas leis as ucht an mhéid seirbhíse atá déanta aige ar son toghthóirí na Tríonóide. Senator Norris is renowned for his Joycean scholarship. A Joyce quote I like and which I think pertains to the Senator is: "As I am. As I am. All or not at all". That encapsulates Senator Norris: one can fight, argue, debate or socialise with him but he is who he is, all or not at all. There can be no ambiguity or anything to say other than that Senator Norris is a scholar, as politician, a person of independence of mind and a champion of civil rights for over four decades. I am becoming a little emotional because it is due to the efforts of people such as Senator Norris that people like me can get married in this country.

Hear, hear.

As many Senators said, he was a champion, a hero and brave and courageous at a time when it was very unpopular for him to be so. Many admired and modelled themselves upon him and joined his fight. Some might have done so belatedly while others did not join at all because they were afraid and did not have Senator Norris' courage to go to Europe or elsewhere for what he deemed right. When the footnotes of Irish history are written, Senator Norris will be noted as a rock, a lighthouse and a shining jewel for the way in which he helped to save our country and transform it, not in one act but in many, as many Senators have said.

I thank the Senator on my own behalf for what he has done, not least being returned to the Seanad on eight occasions, which, in spite of the wiliness of the Cathaoirleach and Senators Paddy Burke, Coghlan and Wilson, is an extraordinary act. I hope many of us will be able to emulate that feat not only in the Seanad but also in the Lower House. It is important that the Senator's electoral record is acknowledged and that tributes are paid to him and also to his administrative assistant, Ms Miriam Smith, for the work she has done. She has always been with the Senator and has stood beside, worked with and challenged him.

She has done so for almost 23 years.

I thank Ms Smith for her work.

Enough has been said. The Senator should go and celebrate. His record speaks for itself. His generosity of person is notable. As Senator Paddy Burke rightly said, when anybody comes into the House the Senator is always willing to have his photograph taken and is always pleasant, amicable and a gentleman. Like Senator Mullen, I wish him multos annos or many more years. I too wish Pope John XXIII was still with us as that would be a wonderful model of church to follow.

It would be a miracle.

It would be a miracle but it would be his model of church.

We have a good new Pope.

We hope that Senator Norris stays with us for many more years. His work and legacy will be remembered and admired by all. Go raibh míle maith agat.

Senators Craughwell, Wilson, McFadden and Murnane O'Connor raised the issue of the Defence Forces. It is regrettable that there are members of the Defence Forces and their families outside the gates of the Oireachtas today. However, it is worth setting the record straight in so far as there has been a record level of recruitment in recent times, with 800 people recruited this year. This is the second year in a row that there has been a cadet class of 100. Last year, more people joined the Defence Forces than left it and Senator Craughwell should remember that. The pay rates for members of the Defence Forces have begun to increase.

When Senators speak about the Defence Forces it is important to remember and acknowledge the role that those men and women play in our country and across the world. I acknowledge and pay tribute to them and their families for the service they have given. They are entitled to pay restoration, which is taking place, and pay increases, which are being made and will continue to be made. It is equally important to recognise that the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, and the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, are committed to resolving the issues raised by many Senators this morning and on an ongoing basis. In the context of the members of the Defence Forces who, unfortunately, are in receipt of family income supplement, although we accept none should be, only 1.3% of the Defence Forces are currently in receipt of it. Let us, and Senators Craughwell and Leyden in particular, be objective about this.

I could take a party political position on this issue but I will not do so because it relates to the Defence Forces for whom we have great respect. We want pay restoration to continue. It is important, therefore, that we continue to work collectively to ensure this is achieved and the Defence Forces are given due recognition. I remember when family members of Defence Forces members ran in general elections against Senator Leyden's party. He should cast his mind back to that.

I accept Senator Paul Daly's amendment to the Order of the Business. While I would be happy for the Minister to come to the House to debate the important matter the Senator raised, he cannot do so today. I ask the Senator to accept a debate on the issue on Tuesday instead.

Senator Mark Daly referred to rural development, GLAS payments and the need to reform the Common Agricultural Policy. Certain remarks were attributed to the agriculture Commissioner, Mr. Phil Hogan. I would be happy to have a debate on the issue in the coming weeks. I will not give a long-winded answer on the issues the Senator raised but it will be important to have a debate.

I join Senators Bacik, Gavan and Norris in condemning the tweets, remarks and inferences of President Trump. This type of rhetoric, whether in a tweet, comment or speech, has no place in society or a modern democracy. We must promote integration and brotherhood and sisterhood, rather than dividing nations and people. The remarks were ill-tempered and have no place in politics. All of us should condemn them and I am glad Prime Minister May condemned them this morning. It beggars belief that President Trump can be allowed to continue to make such remarks. I know we live in a democracy and we have freedom of speech and thought but the President's behaviour was outlandish. I have no interest in seeing anyone trying to condone it because it cannot be condoned.

Senators O'Reilly, Paul Daly and Feighan raised the issue of Brexit, on which I will be pleased to facilitate a debate. I was endeavouring to have a debate on Brexit next week but the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, will be away next week. Perhaps we can find a means of having this important debate, which was outlined very well in the contributions of Senators. The Brexit negotiations are critical to the country. As we all know, the issue of the island of Ireland is fundamentally important in the negotiations and Irish people, North and South, and the Government are very cognisant of this. We cannot place in jeopardy the cross-Border co-operation taking place in 141 separate areas. We cannot put North-South relations and the entire island at risk. I commend Senators on offering their support on this issue and on the positive, affirming and determined rhetoric they used this morning. This is about us, as a nation, North and South, standing together from the point of view of trade, integration and people. For example, 40% of the milk processed in Ireland goes back and forth across the Border and 100,000 cattle cross the Border to be finished. Brexit will have profound impacts on economics, tourism, Border communities and the island as a whole. I will try to arrange a debate for next week or the week after.

I join Senators, in particular Senator Lombard, on congratulating my colleague and friend, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Simon Coveney, on his appointment as Tánaiste. His appointment is a tremendous honour for him personally, the Fine Gael Party in Cork South-Central, of which both he and I are members, and County Cork. The county now has its second Tánaiste, after the late Peter Barry. I will not go as far as Senator O'Sullivan in calling for another Cork man to be Taoiseach. I hope the Taoiseach and Tánaiste will continue in their roles and the latter will be joined in the Dáil by a willing accomplice and candidate in Cork South-Central. The appointment is a tremendous honour for the Tánaiste and his family and I congratulate him, Ruth, his wife, and members of his extended family.

I also wish the Minister, Deputy Josepha Madigan, every success in her new role. She is a formidable and excellent Member of the Lower House where she has, as previous speakers stated, made a significant contribution. I wish her well. I also congratulate the new Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Heather Humphreys, on her appointment. Given the importance of Brexit, her position in an economic Ministry highlights the need for continuing dialogue on the Border region. I wish her well in that regard.

I will be happy to have a debate on electricity, as requested by Senator Paddy Burke.

Senator Gabrielle McFadden raised a disturbing issue related to Simon Community accommodation in the midlands. Perhaps it would be addressed quicker if raised as a Commencement matter but I will try to arrange a debate.

I join Senator Ó Donnghaile in congratulating Gaelic Voices for Change on its sleep-out to highlight the issue of homelessness. We should all highlight this important issue, on which we can expect the Government to take further action. Visibility is also required.

Senator Mullen raised the licence fee and RTÉ. He has raised this issue previously and I am aware that the former Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr. Pat Rabbitte, considered the possibility of introducing a broadcasting charge. I do not necessarily agree with the Senator on the issue of "Fair City" because it is important that we have home produced drama and other productions, not least because they create employment for people in the arts community. However, the Senator makes a good point on the use of the television licence fee. I do not fully agree with RTÉ's editorial policy or production ideas but it is important that, as the State broadcaster, the organisation is independent. If I am correct, the Senator asked that we examine how RTÉ spends income from the licence fee. In the modern era, people use various devices such as iPads and smartphones to watch television. I will probably be accused of being a spoilsport but perhaps we need to consider reducing the licence fee and having a different type of fee. The Government is examining this issue on which we need to have a debate. I accept the point the Senator made.

Senator Murnane O'Connor raised the important issue of domestic violence, specifically violence by men against women and the white ribbon campaign. We all agree on the need to eradicate domestic violence. In recent weeks, we have seen controversies involving behaviour that we cannot condone. This matter is also of major importance. The House had a strong debate on the Domestic Violence Bill and it is important that we work to eliminate all types of mistreatment or inequality.

On the day that we pay tribute to Senator Norris, we also remember Patrick Kavanagh. I was tempted earlier to quote to Senator Norris the following line from Kavanagh that I like - "Every old man I see in October-coloured weather" - but I did not wish to suggest he is in an old man.

At 73 years of age, I am an old man.

While Senator Norris may not be a father, he is the father of the House and, to be fair to him, he has been a father to all of us.

Senators Colm Burke and James Reilly raised the general practitioner contract, an important issue on which we need to have a debate.

I hope Senators will allow a change to the Order of Business next Tuesday and thank them in advance for doing so. The reason we are proposing to amend Tuesday's Order of Business is that the Seanad Public Consultation Committee will sit earlier to meet a number of witnesses who are unable to attend in the afternoon. It was envisaged that the committee would sit for the entire day and the Seanad would not sit. I thank Senators Mark Daly and Coghlan and Ms Bridget Doody who have done a great deal of work on the Seanad Public Consultation Committee. We had hoped the House would not sit on Tuesday but unfortunately certain witnesses could not appear on Tuesday afternoon. I propose, therefore, that Commencement matters will not be taken on Tuesday afternoon and the House will sit from 3.30 p.m. to facilitate the committee.