I thank the 12 Senators who contributed to the Order of Business. The issues of Brexit and the DeSouza case were raised by Senators Mark Daly, Craughwell, Conway, Nash and Feighan. All of us in this House stand united in the twin declaration of the need to ensure there is no return to a hard border on our island and to protect our place in the Single Market. Rather than add to the rhetoric, as parliamentarians it is best that we allow the negotiations to continue such that a deal and a solution can be found in the interests of all of us on this shared island.

The Taoiseach referenced the DeSouza case and he said that he will raise the matter with Prime Minister Johnson again next week. It is an important case. In my opinion, it goes against the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement and it gives further hostage to different sides to argue particular points. The important point is that British citizenship laws are, as the Taoiseach said, out of step with the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement. In keeping with the comments of many Members here, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, there is a responsibility on both sides to honour and uphold it. The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste, as part of their engagements, will make that position clear. To make a distinction between national identity and citizenship is an incorrect reading of the Good Friday Agreement.

In regard to Brexit, the comments today by Mr. Barnier are worth noting. The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have negotiated and will continue to negotiate in food faith. As stated this morning by the Tánaiste, this is not a time for pessimism or optimism, but rather a time for all of us to hold firm in the national interest.

Senators Gavan, Conway and Byrne raised the vexing issue of trolley numbers in University Hospital Limerick. All Members have raised this matter repeatedly in the House. As Senator Gavan knows, the Government is committed under the capital plan to the 60-bed modular unit. We all understand that one person on a trolley is one too many. There is a need for management and the HSE to come together to put in place a real plan that will eliminate the use of trolleys. Equally, there is a role for the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, and SIPTU in regard to the operation of emergency departments and trolley counts, including what counts and does not count. As a Member of the Oireachtas and a citizen of this country it is my view that one person on a trolley is one person too many. However, I have not heard Senator Gavan offer a solution, other than-----

Hire staff.

-----the hiring of staff. The Government is committed in the capital plan. Senator Gavan is party to the regime that proposes to spend its way out of everything.

That does not often work.

We will spend more getting them back in four years' time from London.

That poses the question as to how we view our health system. That is especially the case, give the highest ever expenditure announced in the budget last week. There is also the question as to why the accident and emergency department is our first port of call. Where is our primary care system? Why is that not functioning to the level and capacity needed to have people perceive it to be the first point of contact? Why is that the emergency department? We will have that debate with the Minister in due course.

Senator Craughwell welcomed two people from Cork and I join with him in that.

Senators Norris and Nash raised the issue of Syria. It is a source of distress and concern and we all join in the condemnation of what is happening there. The vacuum being created by the policy of the American Administration is being filled by Russia and Assad. It is unacceptable. The geopolitical landscape has changed in the space of a week because of the policy of the American Administration. It is extraordinary that President Trump's own party, the Republican Party, is fundamentally disagreeing with him on this matter. It is not good. As Senators Nash and Norris stated, we all protest and condemn the actions occurring in Syria. In a series of interviews in the last few days, the Tánaiste, Deputy Coveney, made the Government's position very clear. I would be happy, however, to have a debate on this matter in due course, with the Minister in attendance.

Senators Murnane O'Connor and Gallagher raised the issue of Garda numbers. While I do not wish to engage in political crossfire with the Senators opposite me, they have a very short memory. It was their party, when it was in power, that closed Templemore Garda College, reduced Garda numbers, failed to fill vacancies, put a moratorium in place on recruitment, hiring and promotion and cut the pay and conditions of members of An Garda Síochána. That is their legacy. Under this Government, new members of the Garda have been recruited and the budget for An Garda Síochána has increased by €190 million to include funding for 700 new gardaí and additional staff. Moreover, civilianisation of An Garda Síochána has taken place, meaning that more gardaí are out in the community. Senator Gallagher may shake his head with disbelief but I will bring him to Cork to meet the gardaí who are now in community policing. Members of the Garda are moving out of stations to be replaced with civilians. Just last month, Commissioner Harris-----

How do they get around, having moved out?

By bus.

There must be a good bus service down there.

A good bus service is right.

I will explain. It is very simple-----

We are not going to have a renewed debate on this matter. I call the Leader to respond.