We find ourselves this morning in the middle of what I would call a perfect storm. We have Brexit, industrial relations problems that are bringing this country to its knees and, this morning, Donald Trump was elected President of the United States. Some weeks ago, I warned that we need to be careful in what we said about Mr. Trump because I predicted he might become President. I also predicted that in Europe some weeks ago when people were slagging him off. The bottom line is that he is now the President of the United States. I congratulate him. I wish him well for the future, and I sincerely hope he can work with the undocumented Irish in the United States.

I congratulate and thank my colleague, Senator Mac Lochlainn, who raised the issue of the Jadotville heroes earlier this morning. It behoves everybody in this Oireachtas to ensure these people are given more than a photocopy of the presidential citation. I agree with Senator Mac Lochlainn that they should be brought to Áras an Úachtaráin, given a military medal and recognised for what they are.

I call on the Government to clarify the position with respect to county councillors' pay and PRSI issues. E-mails are being sent from this House morning, noon and night promising the sun, moon and stars to our colleagues who put us in this House. We must stop the messing and give them straight answers. Do we intend to fix their PRSI issues and increase their salaries? If not, we should tell them that straight out and stop the messing. It is unfair on people. Politicising their issues does not help anybody.

Hear, hear.

I ask that we do something straight away on that issue.

I remind the Senator that in the perfect storm, there were no survivors.

Others have spoken already about the US presidential election result and clearly that is the issue uppermost in everyone's mind today. I call on the Deputy Leader to organise a debate on foreign policy in this House in light of that election result because there are serious implications for Ireland on which other speakers have touched. Ms Hillary Clinton's defeat is a huge disappointment for progressive politics, the cause of women in politics, and for Ireland. It is fair to say that the undocumented Irish, the many people whose status in the US is uncertain, will be very concerned today. Not only the Irish but many others will be facing a period of real uncertainty this morning.

Donald Trump's victory has huge implications at international level in terms of climate change agreements - in respect of which he has made some comments - and of US foreign policy more generally. I would like a debate on the cause of women in politics because the level of misogyny expressed during the US election campaign will be very off-putting for many younger women considering a career in politics. As somebody who has always worked very hard to try to ensure that more women enter politics in Ireland and elsewhere, the outcome of the election is really worrying. We need to express strong commendation of and support for Hillary Clinton and her campaign team for putting up such a strong fight and for ensuring the prospect of having a woman President in the US is no longer just hypothetical but is a real prospect. I hope we will see that prospect come true for our daughters' sake, if not for our own.

I welcome the calling off of the ASTI industrial action and hope we will see a resolution through the talks and the intervention of a third party. It is very welcome for all concerned.

Hear, hear.

The House will be taking Committee Stage of the Heritage Bill today. Many of us have expressed opposition to section 8 and the provision which would allow the cutting, destroying and removal of hedgerows in August and burning in uplands in March. We have all received multiple e-mails on this and I hope we can see a way of resolving that issue on Committee Stage.