There have been 44 speakers, which is at least twice the norm. There was discretion of a monumental nature regarding the two-minute rule and the rule to discuss just one topic. I extend my sincere apologies and call the father of the House, Senator Norris.

I want to express my outrage at the complete lack of coverage of the opening session of Seanad Éireann by the media. It was a slap in the face for democracy. It is astonishing that the national broadcaster, Teilifís Éireann, had an hour-long news programme, in which it went all around the country seeing nice old ladies making jam and all the rest of it, yet there was not one single mention of Seanad Éireann, which is extraordinary. There was one journalist here, I think, the last time from a provincial newspaper. I do not see anybody here today but maybe they are concealed somewhere. That is shocking.

In the strange circumstances of our first meeting we have largely omitted to pay adequate tribute to the former Cathaoirleach, Senator Denis O'Donovan. In my 30 years in Seanad Éireann, he was the best and most outstanding Cathaoirleach that we have had. He was decent, fair-minded, judicious with a sense of humour and a sense of decorum. I am sure that the new Cathaoirleach will find his example very valuable in the way he conducts himself, and I wish him very well in his new role.

With regard to direct provision, four or five years ago I introduced legislation into this House that was very narrowly voted down. The legislation would have completely solved the direct provision problem at that time. The then Minister of State, Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, told the House that the matter would be resolved within three months. That was four or five years ago so he signally failed to do so and I hope that this session will not fail to address this important matter.

I thank the Senator and I will take up the issues he raised about coverage with the national broadcaster. In response to his point about the former Cathaoirleach, Senator O'Donovan has served this House and the nation well in his role here, in the Dáil and in previous Seanaid.

I remind Senators that when they are allocated two minutes in which to speak and Ministers are waiting that people will not get in. I do not mind if Senators cover 100 topics in two minutes, although it should only be one topic. When Senators go over time, other colleagues, party members and other people in their group will simply not get in. Today, I have allowed latitude but after this, the time limit will be enforced.

In relation to unparliamentary language, which I am sure some Senators have spotted, I do not condone unparliamentary language. I urge Senators to please not look in a certain direction. I will not say who it was but I am sure they can all guess.

As there were 44 speakers, and the Leader has pages of notes listing the topics raised, I am not sure she will be able to cover everything mentioned. General themes did emerge and I have no doubt that she will do her best to cover an unprecedented number of issues.

The Cathaoirleach can certainly see that there is no shortage of work, and willingness to work, by the Members of this House. I will answer in the round for today. All of the requests for debates, and all of them very much needed, will be addressed as soon as we possibly can. I will liaise with regard to forthcoming legislation and we anticipate anything between six and eight Bills being sent to the House in the next number of weeks. If there is capacity to put some of those debates in the schedule, we will certainly work to do that in the next couple of weeks. If not, again cognisant of what was said last week, we have a tremendous number of new Ministers, to give them an opportunity to read into their briefs and become more proficient, and as suggested by one Senator, we might leave the debates until September. If I can facilitate any of the debates in the next couple of weeks, I will be happy to do so.

I will take up Senator Burke's suggestion that we seek Commencement matters to be received in writing. Again, we all appreciate that we have a lot of work to do in the next couple of weeks but that does not mean we do not have queries that need to be answered through whatever mechanism I can find. I will talk to Ms Orla Murray about the rule of only having four questions or debates a day as that probably would not be sufficient for us all over the next couple of weeks. Let me investigate the matter and I will come back to it on Thursday.

Two specific issues were repeatedly raised today. With the permission of the House what I would like to do is write to the Minister with responsibility for sport with regard to our sporting organisations throughout the country to ask for an extension not only of their fundraising licences but also their pitch licences. We are all aware they have all been closed and their fundraising activities are not the same even though communities have definitely rallied and come together. With the permission of the House, on its behalf I will write to the Minister with responsibility for sport requesting this extension.

Far more importantly, with the unanimous support of the House, I will write to the Taoiseach today suggesting we overwhelmingly support the 12-week extension of maternity leave. We are all aware there are two Ministers involved with regard to the payments, namely, the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection. They need to work together. We could not pass legislation before the new Government was formed, which was last week, but we can certainly pass it now. With the permission of the House, I will write to the Taoiseach saying we overwhelmingly support the 12-week extension and that we will certainly be willing and ready to pass any legislation required to give that extension to the new mammies of Ireland and their husbands.

I very much welcome the Taoiseach's announcement this afternoon to have a public inquiry into the passing of a local constituent of mine, Ultan Meehan. Mary Bartley Meehan has gone on the public record in recent days expressing how concerned, upset and devastated she is at the passing of her husband, only some weeks after the passing of her eldest son, in a nursing home in Meath. There are a lot of questions to be asked and I very much welcome the announcement of the inquiry by An Taoiseach.

Some Members have mentioned the following today. If we could not have loved Tony Holohan more than we did last week, to hear the announcement of the actual personal sacrifice he has made for his State over recent months I have to say he is so highly regarded in our views and in our esteem. I absolutely know and hope he will feel the public will and the value and strength of all of our prayers as his wife goes through the battle she is going through, supported by him. Again, on behalf of the House, I would like to write to him to commend him and thank him for such gracious patriotism in recent months and, indeed, years. He has only become known to most of us in recent months. I will do this on behalf of the House.

With regard to the North-South Ministerial Council, in my four years at the Cabinet table I never attended one of them because there were not Ministers to meet other Ministers. I am very glad that there are now, with the new Government in situ for the past week in Ireland and the Stormont Parliament sitting in Northern Ireland. I will very much welcome the first meeting very soon.