Mr Nash wants to get back to business straight away, adding: "We've a very active Brexit committee in the Seanad I've been involved in from the get-go.

Saeb Erekat on behalf of the Palestinian people and the Palestinian leadership extended sincere appreciation to the Irish Seanad for "standing tall for the principle of justice" by approving this historic motion, saying it is a courageous step that builds on the historic ties between Ireland and Palestine, as well as it shows the way forward for the rest of the European Union.

The statement read: "Today the Irish Seanad has sent a clear message to the international community and particularly to the rest of the European Union: the mere talking about the two-state solution is not enough without taking concrete measures."

Mr Dooley fumed: "I, along with TDs from all sides of the house, sat aghast in the Dail this week as the Taoiseach desperately tried to explain away the John McNulty Seanad nomination fiasco.

Speaking as the Bill completed its passage in the Seanad, Simon Harris said: "This is a genuinely historic moment.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan TD, will come before the Seanad in November to discuss the issue further.

Ms Humphreys, who is under pressure to explain why she elected a Fine Gael Seanad candidate to a state board, dodged the media.

"The Dail has now passed the Termination of Pregnancy Bill and the Seanad will now consider the legislation.

In n am very busy every day, I'm either in the Seanad or I'm participating in Oireachtas committees."

It added a majority in Seanad Eireann was in favour of the move.

by SARAH SLATER SENATOR Jimmy Harte has been a member of Seanad Eireann since April 2011.

Leo Varadkar wants reform of the Seanad, the Oireachtas upper house, as part of a wider shake-up creating "constituencies" of diaspora living in places such as North America and across Europe.

GRADUATES will be given a say in the election of the Seanad.