I thank the 15 Members of the House for their contributions on the Order of Business. At the end of the Order of Business I will propose an amendment that No. 4a on the Supplementary Order Paper, statements on incorrect birth registrations, be taken at 7 p.m. to conclude after 50 minutes. The arrangements for the business shall be that the contributions of group spokespersons are not to exceed six minutes, with the Minister to be given no less than five minutes to apply to the debate. I am sure we can discuss it at the meeting of group leaders after the Order of Business.

Will it be only group leaders?

I hope that Members would be able to participate-----

No, that is fine.

If Senator Norris wants to participate-----

I would have loved to, but I have guests whom I have already pushed up the list.

Given that we have a recess next week and this is a very-----

To be clear, I presume people can share time if they wish.

Yes, absolutely.

Group spokespersons will be allowed to share time.

Yes. This is to facilitate the House as it is important, given the extreme sensitivity of the issue and that it is a matter of urgency. Senators Mark Daly, Conway-Walsh, Boyhan, Humphreys and Leyden contributed on the issue. I thank and compliment Senator Boyhan for his very personal contribution on the Order of Business. This is an historical wrong and, as we know, people have been denied what is rightfully theirs and it is important that we rectify this. As all of us have said here this morning, we are all thinking of the people affected by this awful tragedy and the awful wrong done to them. Senator Boyhan was generous when he said we cannot judge the past by the standards of today. He made a very magnanimous contribution. This is very much something we need to get right. We need to put ourselves in the shoes of people who have been treated so wrongly by the State and various institutions. If we are honest, this is about people trying to establish who they are, having to find a birth mother or father, wondering who they are and who are their siblings and, very often, being blocked by society or the institutions of the State.

I know from friends of the heartache and turbulence in their lives. Senator Boyhan is correct as although some people are happy and do not want to find out any information, others do and it consumes them. I remember going through a phone book in a certain part of the country with a friend trying to find names. We drove a certain part of the country ten times in a day. I am thankful that person was reconciled with his birth mother but it consumed him.

Events are unfolding which are absolutely awful. I commend the Minister, Deputy Zappone, but I condemn Senator Leyden's remarks this morning. This was not an exercise in public relations but rather it was about getting the truth out there. That the children - now adults - were incorrectly registered is an appalling failure by the State.

Hear, hear. She was the first to address it.

The Government must respond immediately and effectively. If there needs to be an independent inquiry, let us have it. Let us give the Minister, Deputy Zappone, the space and time to do this. As Senator Norris suggests, she has only one interest. I have heard some people coming in and talking about an information tracing Bill. There is a reason for the delay, and it is not as easy as some people suggest. There are sensitivities, rights of people and protections that must be provided. We must get the balance right. It is a complex matter. Listening to Seán O'Rourke's radio programme this morning one would have heard the remarks of Mr. Tim Bracken, a senior counsel. He spoke of the major legal complexities in what has happened, including elements of parenthood, relationship succession and the rights of the adopted person. People could lose one right associated with a birth parent by being adopted but that may not be the case after all. I do not want to create hysteria, and that is why we need calm debate.

I do not know if we can retrospectively amend legislation. All of us want to see the publication of amendments for the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill and it is important for this to be done in a manner that progresses the Bill. It is a bit like the post-referendum call for legislation. We should get it right rather than having to revisit everything again. I am very much of that view, although I might be in a minority of one. Let us not give the legal eagles a field day in any scenario any more. We have an obligation to the affected people to get this right. I commend the Minister, Deputy Zappone, on her work.

We have created Tusla and there is an adoption agency. There is a duty on it to put right the wrongs of the past, and that is what we will do. It is why I asked the people in the office of the Minister, Deputy Zappone, about this before the Order of Business. It is important that we, as a House, debate the matter, as is the wish of Senators Mark Daly, Conway-Walsh, Boyhan, Humphreys and the Civic Engagement Group. We should discuss it tonight.

I do not have information on the trials from GlaxoSmithKlline mentioned by Senators Daly and Boyhan. If what they say is the case, it is appalling that this has been done. People should be informed on that. I am not being critical of the Senator.

I know. Perhaps when the Minister comes to the House she could update the House on the matter? Her Department is dealing with it and it is supposed to do a report on it.

It may not be possible to do it today but we will certainly endeavour to do it over the next couple of weeks.

It has been brought to her attention.

I give a commitment on that. Senators Daly, Richmond and Feighan mentioned An Garda Síochána. It is important we support members of An Garda and front-line emergency workers, including those of the fire brigade and ambulance service, when it comes to stress. We can have a debate on that with the appropriate Minister.

Senator Lawless raised the outcome of the referendum. I join him in commending all those people who travelled home to vote, no matter what side on which they voted. It is important for us to recognise that many young people are today exercised by issues rather than party politics. For all involved with the world of politics, there will be an exercise to engage and see how we can continue to gain that attention and work with young people. All of us recognise the importance of the home to vote movement. I agree with the Senator and I am thankful that emigration is temporary today. We benefit greatly from people returning home to work. It is about further enhancing participation in democracy.

I agree with Senator Conway-Walsh on the matter of home help. It is unbelievable that we have a delay in home help hours being allocated to people. I could wallpaper my desk, as I am sure the Senator can, with correspondence from people who are waiting. It is unacceptable. There has been an increase in the budget and we speak of keeping people at home living in the community. We need to see that working effectively with the allocation of hours. I do not agree with the Senator's remarks on the rainy day fund. We had the debate last week and we will not open it again now. I welcome today's rally with regard to the cervical cancer issue and I thank the people for organising it. However, it is important that all the necessary supports and information continue to be given to the women and families affected by this. The Government is committed to this.

Senators Norris, Gallagher, Leyden and Mac Lochlainn raised the matters arising from last night's "Prime Time" programme and the death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell. I did not see the programme. I know Ms Lucia O'Farrell is in the House today. There is a huge sense of grief and understandable anger being felt by the O'Farrell family and no words of mine or any other Members in the House today will ease the pain. It is important to note the tragic loss of life - Senator Mac Lochlainn eloquently disclosed to the House the nature of the incident and the perpetrator - and none of us condones that sort of behaviour. The Senator is correct that there is only place for that type of person, which is behind bars. In saying that there is a need for the family to have closure and answers. I support any call to get those answers. The Senators mentioned the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, inquiry. I am not sure if the findings have been published but I hope they will be.

Part 1 has.

All the information should be put in the public domain. It is about justice and I hope GSOC will publish the report so we can allow for the investigation outcomes to be published. I hope we can get answers for the family so they can get real justice. I do not say this to in any way gloss over the contributions of Members but we should definitely stand united in supporting the family in its search for all the answers. I am happy to give that support.

Senator Norris also raised the incidents in Gaza. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade has condemned the attacks as being unhelpful, and he is right. This should be about dialogue and getting answers. I certainly hope we do not see politicisation of the United Nations by the United States. In response to requests by Senators Norris, Gallagher, Leyden and Mac Lochlainn, I will endeavour to have the Minister for Justice and Equality come to the House after the recess if possible.

Senator Hopkins raised the matter of young people in Leitrim and the campaign to use their brains rather than their fists. I commend all involved in the campaign and thank the Senator for highlighting the matter today. It is important in the modern world that young people think about how they can best serve their communities, friends and peer group.

Unprovoked assaults are not a way and we should do everything in our power to ensure that young people see an alternative to violence and physical contact like that. The message that Senator Hopkins communicated through the video is one we should promulgate and I commend all involved.

Senators Paul Daly and Kevin Humphreys indirectly made reference to climate change and agriculture. I support Senator Daly's call for a Seanad committee to deal with not just the reduction in value of wool but the intersection of agriculture and climate change. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine established a bio-economy working group, which is a cross-departmental group that had its inaugural meeting recently. The Seanad reform committee met yesterday. It is chaired by Senator McDowell, whose birthday was yesterday. I wish him a belated 66th birthday; he is on the bus pass now.

Not until next year.

He is on more than that.

I should also congratulate Senator Bacik, who reached the milestone of 50 at the weekend. I wish her a happy birthday. I am digressing for a moment. Senator Paul Daly's point is one that would, again, make the Seanad relevant in terms of the agricultural community. We have an agriculture sub-panel as part of our electoral system. I would be happy to support a debate on the issues raised by Senators Daly and Humphreys regarding climate change, renewable energy and synthetic petrochemicals.

In respect of Senator Richmond's point, we are very lucky given the quality of members of An Garda Síochána who serve us. To hear yesterday and this morning that seven members died by suicide is a worrying trend. I hope the Department of Justice and Equality and Acting Garda Commissioner Ó Cualáin will put resources in place to ensure there is access to counselling, support and a range of specialisms because our front-line defenders do a huge amount of work and work unsociable hours in unpalatable conditions. I commend them for that.

Senator Humphreys made a very good contribution regarding referendum posters. I hope that the local authorities will show discretion to the volunteers who erected the posters throughout the country. In many cases, they were not paid to put them up. I hope that all those who take down posters will take the cable ties down as well. Extending the deadline is a matter of discretion at local level. It is enshrined in law but it is important that discretion is used.

Senator Gavan raised the issue of the industrial relations climate within University Hospital Limerick. I am not aware of the information he put on the record but if it is half as bad as he has suggested, then it is pretty bad. I advocate that the Senator make a contribution by going to the Workplace Relations Commission himself and making a complaint. I hope he knows I cannot comment because I do not have the information but it would be appalling if a person acting as a shop steward or trade unionist - a voice for workers - is prevented from going back to work if he is fit to do so. I would not support that, as Senator Gavan will know well.

Regarding Senator Gallagher's comment, I did not say anything was a figment of his imagination last week. He is putting words in his own mouth as well as mine.

Senator Buttimer is very much a reality. He is not a figment of-----

I very much live in the real world. I have my finger on the pulse of the people every day, which is why I enjoy being a Member and being involved in public life. If Senator Gallagher wanted to quote me correctly, he would have referred to the website I gave him with access to the information. He should reflect on that.

On a point of information, I have no appetite whatsoever for getting into an argy-bargy here. I raised an issue last week after being contacted by a number of school principals who said that there appeared to be an issue. Two days ago, the INTO issued a statement, according to which it is clearly completely in the dark. It has no preparation made whatsoever and no direction from the Department of Education and Skills. With respect, all I am looking is for the Department to get a grip on this, contact the schools and tell them how they are meant to comply with this new legislation.

The Senator has made his point.

Senator Feighan made an important contribution. Under the previous Government, the Garda Training College in Templemore was reopened. Garda recruitment is open to the public and the closing date is 6 June. I hope that people who are interested in An Garda Síochána will apply to become members. I am proud of the fact that the party that founded An Garda Síochána has recommenced recruitment to it.

They are paid peanuts. Maybe if the Government paid them a proper wage-----

Senator Wilson is definitely spoiling for a fight today. My friendship with him predates our election to the House and I will not rise to his bait on this occasion.

Senator Davitt raised an important point about a potential anomaly. I suggest as a matter of urgency that he tables a Commencement Matter on the matter as he will get an answer more quickly. I am sure the Cathaoirleach would be happy to help him in that.

I thank Members for their contributions. It is my intention to amend the Order of Business to allow for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to come to the House tonight.