I have two brief matters to raise. We are heading into the Christmas season. It is extraordinary how Christmas comes around earlier and earlier. One of these days, it will start before the Listowel races in September with the way it is going. I wish to remind people around the country about the importance of shopping locally at a time when so much money will be spent. I am not saying that I am opposed to online shopping; we live in the real world. People from the country like to have their big days out in Dublin, Cork or wherever they go. I was in the drapery trade for many years, however, and we all know that Christmas shopping is the lifeblood of the small or medium retailer. Such retailers need a good Christmas to get through the year. I would like to uphold the good service that people are accustomed to getting in their own towns from long-established firms such as mine used to be. People should shop locally and be patriotic. We need jobs in small towns. We are trying to regenerate rural Ireland. This is time for people to put their hands in their pockets and support local industry. They will get value and service.

On a more serious note, we had an important event in the Dáil last week when all the young people gathered and had a wonderful debate on climate change and so on. It was great to see young people having an interest in politics, which I have always encouraged. Now I am not so sure. I am not a child and I know that politics was never the boy scouts. I do not want to be too po-faced about it since we have to have the cut and thrust. I am personally becoming alarmed, however, at the standards that obtain at present in politics in Ireland. I do not point a finger at any single individual or party. It is quite the opposite but I think a race to the bottom has been going on in these Houses in recent months, as well as in comments in the media, from all parties and addressed against all parties. It is suddenly no longer about policy or the economy but seems to be about what one did or said, or what one can be caught doing. I dread what will happen between now and when the election is called in May or whenever, if we spend all the time trawling and digging and having our officers and backroom staff at that kind of game.

Hear, hear.

Politics is an honourable profession. We are all decent people. I have met very few people in politics who I do not like or admire. They are all doing a hard, thankless job. People think we are well-paid and so on but they do not look at the work rate that is involved. Why are we, as politicians, attacking each other on small personal issues which, though important in their own way, are relatively trivial in the overall scheme of things? I encourage Members, for the remainder of the by-elections and going into the next general election, to get on with the business of real politics and to stop going back to such mudslinging. Are we picking up the American example? No one knows what is news, fake news or bad news. I am not a holier than thou fellow. I have played a few good tricks and pulled a few good strokes in my time. There is no denying that and I would not be here if I did not.

The Senator is from Kerry, to boot.

I never attacked another politician in a personal way. I play my own ball. Let everyone play his or her own ball. We will be better and cleaner for it and we will be more respected for it.

I agree completely with Senator O'Sullivan. The trivialisation and denigration of politics that flows from personalised attacks on individuals is damaging and corrosive of the whole legislative process and the democratic process.

People may have made mistakes in the past and do stupid things; as far as I am concerned, they do stupid things every day on social media. I really think we should lift our eyes from the trivia and deal with the important issues.

I second Senator Craughwell's proposed amendment to the Order of Business.

Will the Leader ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, to come to the House to have a discussion with us on the State's attitude to the Palestinian settlements, especially in the light of what Secretary of State Pompeo has announced as America's position, namely, that contrary to all rubrics of international law, America is taking an exceptionalist and unilateral position that the settlements are not unlawful. Of course, America can do what it likes in some respects and can state what it does or does not consider to be unlawful. However, if there is to be complete demolition of the concept of international law rules, if the idea of occupation and settlement of territory seized in war and expulsion of the people in it is to be legitimised and regarded de facto with impunity as a state of affairs, that is a serious matter, on which Ireland should take a stand. The Tánaiste should come to the House to explain to us where Ireland really stands on it and whether it has the guts to state twe object strongly to this démarche by the Americans.

I want to add one footnote, without naming the writer. In the last week a letter writer to The Irish Times who is probably known to most Members of this House wrote to the effect that the rendering illegal of settlement goods produced in the Occupied Territories was of a piece with requiring Israelis, if they came to Ireland, to wear the Star of David. That is deeply offensive to those of us who supported the Bill, who strongly support the right of the state of Israel to exist and who agree with the many people in Israel who oppose the occupation of the Palestinian territories. It is deeply offensive for a former Member of the Houses to equate support for the Bill with a mentality that would ask Israelis to wear the Star of David in Ireland.

I welcome the €3 billion national broadband plan which has received EU state aid approval. It is the biggest investment in rural Ireland and every farm, home, business and school will be connected. It is due to start in eight weeks' time. Rural Ireland will not be left behind and the Government has made a significant gesture to help it to get on its feet. Some 90% of businesses and houses in the State will be covered by the plan. This is a great day for rural Ireland. People can complain all they want about the cost of the plan and so on, but it is an investment in from where I come and every business, school and farmhouse will be connected.

Senator Craughwell spoke about the air ambulance service. I remind people that in 2011 there was no air ambulance in the country. The emergency department in Roscommon was downgraded. Fine Gael in government, with the Labour Party, put an air ambulance service in place in Athlone. The Ministers involved were former Deputy Alan Shatter and Senator James Reilly. I was also involved. Hundreds of lives have been saved as a result. As I said, there was no air ambulance in the country, except for the Irish Coast Guard helicopters. Yes, there are issues that need to be addressed. Use of the Irish Coast Guard is one option and the air ambulance service in Cork another, but the position is not ideal.

We need to work together. The air ambulance has saved hundreds of lives. I know of at least 50 people in my area whose lives have been saved. If we got statements from each one of them, each one would tell the Government and myself how important it is. We all know there is an issue regarding the retention of pilots and that there are other issues. I believe this Government will address them.

Senator Craughwell is a good friend. We both wear the poppy and we remember. On this occasion, I think he should withdraw what he said about the Taoiseach because we all get things wrong and I understand what was said was probably said without any malice.

I assure Senator Feighan I will recheck my facts.

I thank Senator Craughwell.