I welcome the performance of my party's candidates in the by-election. It was a great pleasure for me to canvass with Councillor Duncan Smith in Dublin Fingal and Councillor Joanna Tuffy in Dublin Mid-West. They did extremely well in the by-elections. I commend them. I support the amendment proposed by Senators Humphreys and Nash to amend the Order of Business to bring in the Minister for Health. While we await the Leader's response, it is an important matter. I support Senator Ó Céidigh's point about spousal work permits. Several people have raised it with me over a couple of years. Last week the Taoiseach referred at the American Chamber of Commerce lunch to changing rules to enable spouses of US citizens who have a work permit to also work here. This is a more general issue and it is important that we address it. We are wasting a huge amount of talent among people who are not allowed to work.

I renew my request to the Leader for Government time to debate Committee Stage of our Labour Party Bill to enable residency and citizenship status to be given to children born in Ireland whose parents are not Irish citizens. We in Labour have been pushing this with the Migrant Rights Centre, the Immigrant Council of Ireland and others. It is very important that over Christmas, families have certainty about immigration and residency status, in particular when they have children who have been born and brought up here and who know no other home. At the very least they should be given clarity on their residency status. Our Bill would give them a pathway to citizenship. It is a really important Bill and I would like us to have Government time for that in the new year.

I want to acknowledge the agreement to two significant motions at Belfast City Council last night. The first called on that council to prepare research on a change in constitutional status and future planning, and the impact that might have on the economy and prosperity of the city. It is a very prudent and responsible decision that is planning for a future change adopted by a majority vote. It is an example to other institutions the length and breadth of the island not to retreat from this necessary debate on planning but to engage positively and collaboratively. That has been the view across the Chamber here. Regardless of where we come down on the constitutional question and its nuances, we all agree that it is responsible, shows leadership and is necessary to engage in the preparations in an inclusive way. I reiterate my call for that discussion. The Seanad can act as a positive representative forum and place for that moving forward.

The second motion agreed at Belfast City Hall last night was in favour of writing to An Taoiseach and the British Secretary of State asking them to outline the conditions and scenario under which a referendum on our constitutional future can be called. Given the political climate we are in, if we are going to discuss this and plan appropriately we need to have all the necessary and relevant information to hand. At this crucial juncture in our political and societal life it would be positive if, immediately the Taoiseach could outline what his and the Government's understanding is of how those criteria can be met. The Leader said he hopes to have An Taoiseach in here before the end of the year. If that is the case, I hope he will have a response for Belfast City Council and will be able to inform us of it.