The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding the arrangements for the address to Seanad Éireann by Maura Healey, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on Tuesday, 27 June 2023, to be taken on the conclusion of the Order of Business without debate; No. 2, motion regarding the Technological Universities Act 2018 (Section 44F) (Appointed Day) Order 2023, referral to committee, to be taken on the conclusion of No. 1, without debate; No. 3, Veterinary Medicinal Products, Medicated Feed and Fertilisers Regulation Bill 2023 - Second Stage, to be taken at 3.15 p.m. and to conclude at 5 p.m., if not previously concluded, with the opening contribution of the Minister not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed eight minutes and all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, and with the Minister to be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate; and No. 4, Civil Defence Bill 2023 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 5 p.m. or on the conclusion of No. 3, whichever is the later.

It is an honour that Maura Healey, the Governor of Massachusetts, will be visiting Ireland and will speak in Seanad Éireann next Tuesday. She is the first woman to hold that position in Massachusetts. She is one of the first openly gay candidates to run for and to be elected to office. Ireland has incredible ties to Boston, Massachusetts. So many Irish people feel that it is a home away from home. Maura Healey has strong connections with the west of Ireland and many other areas, but particularly Ballinasloe. I am a Senator from Ballinasloe, and it is incredible to think that she has these ancestral connections to a small town in the west of Ireland. Those connections are through her great-grandmother, Katherine Tracy. Governor Healey's election last November was an incredible win for an excellent candidate for the Democratic Party, a person who has fought for civil rights, immigrant rights and LGBTQ rights all through her career.

At that time we spoke in the Seanad and we requested that an invitation be issued, so I am thankful the Cathaoirleach has been able to make this come to pass.

When I speak about where I come from, a small town, it is powerful to think that someone left Ireland as an emigrant and travelled to faraway shores, and now one of their family, a woman, is in this position as governor and she is coming to Ireland to speak here in Seanad Éireann. I look forward to that. It is to be hoped she will be able to visit the west of Ireland again on her next visit. I want to highlight that we will have groups from Ballinasloe to welcome her when she comes to Seanad Éireann next Tuesday. It is an important thing for young women everywhere. She spoke to this when she was elected, about how, for young girls all over the world, there is no ceiling they cannot break. It is important we are seeing someone who is such a role model coming here to speak to us in Seanad Éireann next Tuesday. I thank the Cathaoirleach for organising this. I look forward to meeting this inspirational role model who will be with us next Tuesday.

I thank Senator Dolan for giving me half my speech for next Tuesday. I hope I have half the enthusiasm the Senator has expounded. It will be a great day.

The Cathaoirleach can get it all from the blacks in the morning.