I propose an amendment to the proposed Order of Business, that there be a sos between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Is the Senator seconding Senator Craughwell's proposal?

If Senator Craughwell formally moved it, I formally second it.

On what basis does the Senator want a sos?

On humanitarian grounds.

People are entitled to an evening meal.

The Senator does not have to explain. An amendment has been proposed.

Three or four of us were here for six, eight or 12 hours at one time.

May I ask the Senator why he wants a sos?

It is so that we can have a tea break during the long debate.

The Senator does not have to explain.

Any reason for opposing the amendment is a pretence that this matter is urgent and needs to be rushed through the House. There is plenty of time to discuss it and the only person who thinks it is urgent is one member of the Cabinet. The Minister told us it would take many months, possibly between eight and 18, to get the whole process going once the Bill is passed, so there is no huge urgency and we do not have to pretend there is.

On the presidential election, the Constitution provides that it is an elected office and it envisages that four county councils or 20 Members of the Oireachtas are entitled to nominate somebody for the position. The Constitution also states that an outgoing President can renominate himself without any such formalities so it is undemocratic to do a dog-in-a-manger act and prevent people from standing by not using the nomination powers we are given as Members of the Oireachtas to ensure there is a contest. Sinn Féin has at least 20 seats in both Houses and I hope it exercises its right.

Hear, hear.

There are another 30 or 40 Members of this House who are in a position to see if there is anybody, not necessarily from within this House, who is a worthy and appropriate candidate. This is a democratic State so we should not have shoo-ins by the arrangement of the powers that be.

Is Senator McDowell seconding Senator Craughwell's presidential campaign?

I come from a group of Independents which has all the talents. We have at least three aspiring Presidents among us and I ask if any other group in the House can match that.