Like Senator Murphy, I wish those getting their junior certificate results the very best. As someone who has been on many school boards of management over the past 20 years, I know that, while it may not be as important as it used to be, it is a very good practice run for the leaving certificate. Those who went into the leaving certificate having never done the junior certificate as a result of the Covid pandemic may have found it a bit more daunting. I wish those students well with their results today.

There were expressions of sympathy in the Dáil yesterday on the death of the former Senator, Deputy and professor, Dr. Brian Hillery. Perhaps we will be able to carry out a similar exercise at some point. I know such things generally only happen in one House or the other but he was a Member of this House for 14 years and a Member of the Dáil for three. While the statements in the Dáil were very nice and well put together and certainly acknowledged his contribution, now that the Covid pandemic has elapsed, I would like to put on the record of the House statements on former Members in more depth than is possible on the Order of Business. I certainly acknowledge Dr. Hillery's contribution not just as a Member of the Dáil and a Member of the Seanad for 14 years over a number of terms, but his contribution to Irish life more widely. In terms of academia, he was a professor in UCD. He was also a director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development at a very important time in the 1990s and a director of the Central Bank. He was also very involved in many businesses and organisations including Independent News and Media. He was an absolute gentleman and a real legend of Irish political life, business life and academic life.

He lectured me in UCD and I met him in here. In fact, I welcomed him to the Chamber when I was in the Chair one day in December 2019. When he passed in January 2021, it was quite a shock to me. I appreciate the Cathaoirleach allowing me to make a contribution today. Perhaps we will be able to make more measured comments at another time. I know Senators Norris and Burke were here at the same time as Dr. Hillery but many others would have known and appreciated him. You always felt better after having meeting him around the Houses. He was a thorough gentleman. May he rest in peace.

I thank Senator Horkan for recalling the life and service of Dr. Hillery who, as the Senator pointed out, served here in the Seanad. As the Senator will know, we can have those special tributes. It is up to the Leader's office. If Senator Horkan would like to write to the Committee on Parliamentary Privileges and Oversight, he may. As he will know, we have a new standardised format whereby all Senators who pass away are acknowledged in the Seanad on the next available sitting day and we send a motion from the Seanad to the family as soon as possible afterwards. That is one of the procedures we have but, as the Senator points out, there is also provision for expressions of sympathy on particular occasions. Such expressions have been facilitated by Senator Burke and other Cathaoirleach's in the past. Senator Horkan's suggestion regarding former Senator and Deputy, Dr. Brian Hillery, is a very good one.

Without meaning to strike a note discordant with the Cathaoirleach's remarks, I concur with Senator Horkan. As a long-standing Member of the House, I believe it is important that we do not lose the tradition of bringing the families of deceased Members to the House. We should not lose that. I am very strong on that point. I appreciate that the Covid pandemic interfered with proceedings but there are Members for whom we have not done that. I hope that, in the new year, the House will bring family members in to celebrate and commemorate the lives of people like Dr. Hillery, whom Senator Horkan referenced. I do not mean to be discordant but it is important that we do not lose certain traditions in the House. I am glad that we have them.

I ask that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, come to the House. I congratulate my colleague, Senator McGahon, on his great work on the Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action and on his participation in COP27. The Minister, who is the EU lead negotiator in talks on loss and damage funding, is speaking this morning about aviation, the transport sector and other parts of business that will have to pay more. I remind Senators and the Minister that we are an island nation and that connectivity and aviation are very important to us. I ask that the Minister come to the House. Senator Lombard made reference to the National Transport Authority, NTA. I want to make reference to Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, as I did last week, with regard to its decision to propose increasing toll charges to the maximum permitted in the new year.

Is TII tone deaf and blind to the hauliers, bus companies and hard-pressed motorists who are struggling to meet cost-of-living increases? Adding an extra charge on them on our motorways is mind-boggling. It is important that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, come to the House to explain the rationale. We are penalising motorists more and more every day. Soon, it will almost be a crime to be a car owner or other motorist. We cannot let this continue. I ask that the Minister attend the House for an urgent debate on the impending toll charge increases.