I call on the Leader to respond.

I thank the 21 Members for their contributions to the Order of Business.

I dtús báire ar mo shon féin, ar son mo pháirtí agus ar son an Tí, déanaim comhbhrón le clann Mhícheál Uí Shúilleabháin a fuair bás maidin inniu. The death of Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin is a tragic loss to our country. As many Members have said, he was a scholar, composer and musician. His legacy will be left for all time and for every people. Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell spoke about Mozart. He certainly brought Irish music to that level, whether it was though his involvement with a variety of different musical programmes and arrangements, his academic work in University of Limerick or his partnership with Nóirín Ní Riain. For those in UL and the wider family of music and culture, his loss will be profound. I want to offer to his wife, Helen, and his family our deepest sympathies. We should all be sorry but we should also rejoice in what he has achieved in his life. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

In the two and a half years that we have come in here, I have always sought to bring people in everything I have tried to do as Leader of the House. We do not always find agreement. We do not always reach the end point of what we do, but we get there. It is important that the histrionics this morning around the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill are put in context. I apologise to Senator Bacik who has to make different arrangements.

All of us have to; it is not only me.

I know.

We might get through the Order of Business first before we start with the apologies.

We could start with Senator McDowell because he is fairly good. I will not say anymore, save to say that the Leas-Chathaoirleach is right. We have had 35 and a quarter hours of debate on Committee Stage since 2 July. Despite Senator Wilson's lavish praise of some of the contributions-----

Does that show the Senator's worth?

I would not use the terms "flawless" or "enlightening" about some of the contributions, but we will leave that for another day.

I am going to put the proposal to the House. I respect the differing viewpoints of other Members. If the proposals or amendments-----

Will the Leader tell us where the proposals came from?

They came from me as Leader of the House. Despite what some Members have said, in keeping with what I try to do as Leader, I emailed the leaders and Whips of all parties and groups on Tuesdays morning. It was not an eleventh hour decision or one made this morning. To be fair, people were consulted. Some Members have come in talking about the A, B and C.

From where did the change come?

The Senator is out of order. He cannot interrupt again.

At whose instigation?

The Senator has interrupted everyone. Will he, please, shut up and stay in his seat?

Would you, please, use parliamentary language?

I am sorry, but the Senator is provoking me. Will he, please, resume his seat? The Leader to continue, without interruption, please. We are trying to get through the business.

On the impending visit and address to the House by the Lord Mayor of Belfast, I will keep my remarks brief and to a number of key points.

On the issue of the HSE and staff operating in hospitals over the Christmas period, the Taoiseach is again being misrepresented-----

Please, let me finish. If Senators want to use the Taoiseach's remarks as a political football, that is their prerogative. Many have done so today.

The issue is about the workers, as opposed to it being a political football.

Unlike Senator Ó Ríordáin and others in the House - perhaps I should not say that - I have worked in hospitals on Christmas Day, St. Stephen's Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. I have worked during holiday periods-----

Please, let me finish.

The Leader to continue, without interruption, please.

I concur with the remarks made by Senator Reilly. Hospital and HSE front-line staff do Trojan work. I pay tribute to them and support them in the work they do. It ill behoves Members to use them as a political football.

That is disgraceful.

The Taoiseach did that.

Please, Senators. All Senators have had their say.

The Taoiseach used them as a political football to cover up the lack of-----

Please, Senator.

I am sorry, but-----

We shall hear the Leader without interruption.

I think Senator Devine should reflect on her contribution, in particular, when she spoke-----

On what? Why?

Order, please.

I will tell the Senator why. The Senator spoke about cancelling Christmas, which is a gross misrepresentation.

No.

It is.

Do not stand there and try to make it up and say I-----

The Senator knows-----

The Leader is agreeing with the cancelling of-----

-----that we are going to have the Lord Mayor of Belfast with us shortly.

Senator Devine is only after saying-----

It is right to take time off to be with family over Christmas.

The Senator is out of order. She cannot interrupt.

The point I want to make is that we have had enough reports and policies. Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell is right in that respect. We need real reform. Senator Colm Burke is also correct that there are more people employed today in the health service - I believe there are 12,000 more - compared to the number in 2014. Members opposite come into the House to give out about everything. I put it to Senator Humphreys that I know that it is hard, but he was part of the Government that took decisions to build the country back up.

We never blamed the workers.

Please, let me finish.

No interruptions, please.

I am not blaming the workers either. I am not blaming them at all, but it suits the Senators' narrative-----

It suits the narrative of a right-wing lunatic who uses this culture to blame workers on the front line in the health service.

It is called political engagement. That suits your narrative. I can shout you down too.

On a point of order, is it appropriate to describe the Taoiseach as "a right-wing lunatic"?

It is not.

I am happy to have the debate-----

Is there an answer to that question?

-----but I ask Members who are-----

What about attacking the 500,000 patients who did not turn up for their appointment? That would have helped to clog the system.

That is part of it, but-----

Why? It is not as simple as that.

We have a very important guest coming to the House and I want to conclude. We will have that debate.

Members raised the issue of insurance. The Minister has been to the House to discuss it and a task force has been established. The Minister will come back to the House again. If Members will indulge me, I will deal with the other contributions made on the Order of Business later. I will speak to Senator Ó Ríordáin about the issue he raised later.

And broadband.

I congratulate our friend and colleague, Senator O'Sullivan, on his elevation and promotion, which is richly deserved. He will bring a tremendous wealth of knowledge, experience and insight to his new role.

Perhaps Members might allow me to reflect on their contributions which I will address again. I oppose the amendment proposed to the Order of Business.