The Order of Business is No. 1, motion regarding proposed approval by Seanad Éireann of the Social Welfare (Consolidated Claims, Payments and Control) (Amendment) (No. XX) (Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit) Regulations 2024, to be taken on conclusion of the Order of Business, without debate; No. 2, Social Welfare Bill 2024 - all Stages, to be taken at 3.15 p.m. and the proceedings thereon shall, if not previously concluded, be brought to a conclusion at 6 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, with the time allocated to the opening remarks by the Minister in the debate on Second Stage not to exceed ten minutes, group spokespersons not to exceed 15 minutes and time may be shared and all other Senators not to exceed five minutes, with the Minister be given no less than ten minutes to reply to the debate, with Committee and Remaining Stages are to be taken immediately thereafter; No. 3, Private Members' business, Curragh of Kildare (Amendment Bill) 2022 - Second Stage, to be taken at 6.30 p.m. and, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, to be brought to a conclusion after one hour, if not previously concluded; and No. 4, Private Members' business, Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person (Amendment) 2024 - Second Stage, to be taken at 7.30 p.m., with the time allocated to this debate not to exceed two hours.

Before I call on the first speaker, on behalf of the Members of the House, I welcome a delegation from the United States from the great state and city of New York, who join us in the Distinguished Visitors Gallery. You are very welcome and I thank you for being here and for the work you are doing on both sides of the island of Ireland. Earlier today, I had the pleasure of meeting Congressman Tim Kennedy, from the wonderful city of Buffalo, who is an extraordinary friend to all of us in the Oireachtas.

I also welcome our Consul General in New York, Helena Nolan. I congratulate her on her imminent appointment as the new ambassador to Morocco. I wish her well and thank her for all of the work she has done and will do, but more importantly at the moment, for all the work she has done in New York. I also offer our deepest sympathies on her recent bereavement. I realise it is a difficult time and I thank her for being here today.

I will be meeting the delegation later in meeting room 2.

I do not normally single out people. My old friend Mike Carroll is here who has minded me since I became a Member of the Oireachtas in 2007 and led me into many different places I never would have been. I thank Mike for being here and look forward to meeting the delegation later. Céad míle fáilte roimh gach duine.