I welcome the students from Carlow Educate Together who are here.

Members will be aware a good friend of all of us in the parliamentary community, Michael O'Regan, passed away at the weekend. He died suddenly on Sunday. He was a former parliamentary reporter, political analyst, author and broadcaster, lately of The Irish Times. He grew up in Blennerville, west Kerry. Newspapers, books and poetry were a constant feature of his life. That resulted in him pursuing journalism, in which he had a long, varied and accomplished career. He was a well-known voice across radio and television and a respected political journalist. He won a national journalism award in 1980 and joined The Irish Times in 1981. His coverage of the Kerry babies tribunal stood out at the time and still does as a mark of his journalistic skill and compassion.

To all of us in this House, he was a familiar face and voice in the corridors, halls and canteen of Leinster House. He was more than familiar with this place. He was a Dáil reporter appointed in 1988 and a central part of the coverage of The Irish Times until his retirement in 2019. Michael earned the respect of all of us through his integrity and saying it as it was. He loved politics but, perhaps more importantly, he loved being with politicians, talking and swapping stories with us and having a bit of craic. He had a great sense of the importance of the political system, of parliamentary democracy and of its value. He had wonderful insight, knowledge and perspective on political life. As politicians, we might not always have agreed with him. We could have a bit of banter as well as disagreement, but he was always respectful, good-humoured and full of wit.

Michael loved Kerry and on Radio Kerry his "Call from the Dáil" became synonymous with him and his life in Leinster House. Our former colleague and friend, the late Senator Paul Coghlan, who was a founding shareholder of Radio Kerry, took great delight in having Michael on the radio. If Paul got a mention on the "Call from the Dáil" slot, it was like winning the lotto. To Michael's family and friends, in particular Elizabeth, his daughters Deirdra and Alyson, his grandchildren and his siblings, we extend our deepest sympathies. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. At the end of the Order of Business, we will hold a minute's silence for our friend Michael O'Regan.

I welcome our Canadian friends, the speaker, the ambassador and the entire delegation. They are most welcome to Seanad Éireann. I concur with the Cathaoirleach's remarks on Michael O'Regan and extend my sympathies and those of the House to his family on his sad passing. He was one of the very few people - I would say I could count them on one hand - whose tweets I actually enjoyed reading. He was always witty and balanced and he called out and cut through the nonsense. He was a very fair commentator. He espoused the views of middle Ireland and the average person on the street when discussing politics and life in general. We will all miss him. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding proposed approval of a meeting of the Joint Committee on the Irish Language, Gaeltacht and the Irish-Speaking Community in Galway city, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, Social Welfare and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023 - Committee and Remaining Stages, to be taken at 12.45 p.m. and adjourn at 2.30 p.m., if not previously concluded; No. 3, motion regarding Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023 - Instruction to Committee, to be taken at 2.30 p.m., without debate; and No. 4 Local Government (Mayor of Limerick) and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken on conclusion of No. 3 and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 7 p.m. by the putting of one question from the Chair which shall in relation to amendments include only those set down or accepted by Government. Private Members' business, which is to be taken at 7 p.m., or on the conclusion of No. 4, whichever is the later, is No. 129, motion 3, regarding the situation in Palestine, with the time allocated to this debate not to exceed two hours.

I also acknowledge, as part of the delegation from the Canadian Senate, Senators Jane Cordy, Percy Mockler and Colin Deacon. They are all welcome and I thank them for being here. I thank Ambassador Smyth for the work she is doing in Ireland on behalf of the Canadian Government and for her engagement with us in the Parliament.