The Order of Business is No. 1, statements on transport and sport, to be taken at 2 p.m. and conclude at 4 p.m, with the opening contribution of the Minister not to exceed 50 minutes, the contributions of group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes each and those of all other Senators not to exceed six minutes each and the Minister to be given not less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; No. 2, Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017 - Report Stage, resumed, and Final Stage, to be taken at 4 p.m. and adjourned at 5.30 p.m., if not previously concluded; and No. 3, Private Members' business, Criminal Justice (Rehabilitative Periods) Bill 2018 - Committee Stage, to be taken at 5.30 p.m. and adjourned after two hours, if not previously concluded.

I remind Members that following the Order of Business we will be hosting the Kiely family for the scheduled tributes to the late iar-Chathaoirleach Rory Kiely. As I am sure many Members will want to pay tribute to him, I hope we can strive to complete the Order of Business without delay in order that we can start the tributes at 12.45 p.m.

On the last point, I remind Senators that group spokespersons have three minutes and are permitted to raise two items on the Order of Business. All other Senators have two minutes and are permitted to raise one item. Unfortunately, many Senators are not in the Chamber and will not be aware of this, but their colleagues who are present might remind them of it as they arrive. I apologise as I might have been a little lax yesterday, but I will not be today. The Leader has reminded us of the reasons we should not delay today.

I support the Order of Business as proposed. Will the Leader of the House devote time within the next week or so to debate the roll-out of the €3 billion and flawed national broadband plan that was signed yesterday by the Government? It was an excellent PR stunt. According to the successful bidder, Mr. David McCourt, the project will ensure businesses and residents will have a bright and sustainable future. The only one who has a brighter future is Mr. McCourt because he has the best sweetheart deal of all time. It is one of the most magnificent achievements of any businessman without one yard of fibre or one pole at his disposal. I know that he is in New York seeking to raise funds for the project and he will probably be successful because it is a win-win for him and his company. In August the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment brought forward a very good and well studied report. Deputy Dooley led off for Fianna Fáil at the time when we came to the conclusion that there was good cause to look at the issue again because we had the ESB, which is not a national but an international company. It has all of the infrastructure needed to provide broadband for every house in Ireland without any difficulty. Eir also stated it would be prepared to consider becoming involved again. Of course, the reason the decision has been announced is the by-election to be held on 29 November, as well as the fact that things are not going very well for the Government. In fact, they are going very badly for it. They are going so badly for it that it is thinking of withdrawing candidates, not to mention anything else. Of course, broadband is needed. We need it. Fianna Fáil-----

The Senator should be on the stage.

We are on the stage.

The Senator should be in an opera house.

This is one of the most important stages in Ireland. The Dáil and the Seanad are the most important stages in Ireland. In every election in recent years Fine Gael stated in its manifesto that it would provide broadband for every house in the country. That has not happened and it will not happen for a very long time. It is a myth. It is a great day when a contract is signed, but Mr. Robert Watt and others questioned the signing of it as much of the fibre would not be rolled out until beyond 2020 or 2026. All I am saying is there is a need for broadband. How it is provided is a matter of judgment. The Government will be judged on the issue. It is very strange that the former Minister was accused of being too friendly with Mr. McCourt and left office, while the Minister seemed to have been influenced by him. I say, "Well done," to Mr. McCourt, for whom it is a great day. I wish him luck in that regard.

How is Fianna Fáil's Fingal candidate going?

I hope Fine Gael is not receiving any contribution from-----

The Senator should withdraw that remark.

What did I say?

The Senator knows well what he said. It is scurrilous.

Did I miss something?

The Senator did say it. It will be in "the blacks".

If Senator Leyden was out of order, I rely on him to-----

I was not out of order.

The Senator knows that he was out of order.

We will not argue about it now. Senator Leyden will reflect on the matter.

It is about time that he was called out. It is the Fianna Fáil model of broadband and that is what it is going to be playing at.

The Leader will respond in due course.