I would like to welcome my colleague Anthony Lawlor into the Seanad today. He follows in the footsteps of his mother, Senator Patsy Lawlor. I also want to welcome Senator Ian Marshall. On 14 February this year, I spoke in the Seanad Chamber to call for one of the vacant Seanad seats to be filled by a unionist voice from Northern Ireland. I am delighted that my fellow county man is here. The Feighans all come from Cullyhanna in Armagh, only 13 miles from Markethill. We come from different traditions, but we are united in one thing - peace and friendship on the island of Ireland, and indeed between our two islands.

Last night I gave an answer to Lord Kilclooney, who is a colleague of mine in the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly. He is formidable and robust. I asked him to withdraw the racist remarks. I believe this is a pattern, but it does not reflect the honourable members of the House of Lords, many of whom come from an Irish tradition, and many of whom have a keen understanding of Brexit, but also huge compassion and generosity towards the island of Ireland.

Any day that a new Senator comes to the House is always a great day, and we should celebrate it. I am delighted to see my good friend Senator Anthony Lawlor here. When Senator Lawlor was in the other House, he spoke and worked for people from underprivileged backgrounds in Africa and other countries. What he did in the other House emulated what we like to think we do here, and what we do here on a regular basis, namely, speak on behalf of the most vulnerable people in society. I know that Senator Anthony Lawlor will continue that work now that he is back in the Houses of the Oireachtas, where he can and will wield an influence and continue to do the work he has done.

I have gotten to know Senator Ian Marshall over the past number of weeks. He will bring new enthusiasm to this House and not just a knowledge of the situation in Northern Ireland and the tradition and culture from which he comes, but an immense amount of knowledge and information about agriculture which will be very useful.

It is amazing that all the major health scandals in this country have involved women, something to which Alison O'Connor referred last night.

I thank the Senator.

I have not finished.

I know that, but the Senator's time has finished.

The Leas-Chathaoirleach can shout me down all he likes but I intend to finish.

I do not want any Senator to be unruly. I want respect for the Chair.

All the scandals in this country have involved women and we have a very important poll on 25 May which affects women.

It affects every citizen.

I ask that people take cognisance of that.

I add my congratulations to the two new Senators and wish them well. I listened to their maiden speeches online and I was very impressed by them both. I had not made the connection between Senator Lawlor and his illustrious mother, who came into the Seanad on the same path as a cousin of mine, Kit Ahern, who was also president of the Irish Countrywomen's Association, ICA. She finished up in the Dáil subsequent to being a Senator. I congratulate Senator Marshall on his success, on accepting the nomination to contest, then canvassing and being elected and, most important, coming down here and taking his seat. It is groundbreaking for us.

Senator Rose Conway-Walsh was very forthcoming on the rationale for Sinn Féin's vote in one of the papers but not so forthcoming as regards the second paper, on which Sinn Féin supported Fine Gael in the ongoing love that dares not speak its name. I repeat my call to Sinn Féin to take a leaf out of Senator Marshall's book by taking their seats in Westminster, at a time when Ireland needs a nationalist, pro-Europe, anti-Brexit voice. A number of people are sitting on their backsides instead of going over there and working for the people who elected them.