I thank the 15 Senators who contributed on the Order of Business. On the amendment proposed to the Order of Business by Senator Mark Daly, the Orkambi issue will be discussed in the House tomorrow. The Minister for Health is in Lisbon meeting his EU counterparts, with whom he will discuss it, among other matters. I hope, therefore, that, rather than divide the House, the Senator will withdraw his amendment. At the request of his party leader last week, the matter has been placed on the Order Paper for tomorrow. New politics is at work. If the Senator withdraws his amendment, we will see even better politics.

The Senator is correct about organ donation. There is a need for a gargantuan change in how we look at it. That is why the Government is and the Minister in the previous Government, Deputy Leo Varadkar, was working on legislation for an opt-out system. It is also why the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children, of which I was Chairman, worked on the issue of organ donation. I appreciate that the Senator has the Irish Kidney Association as a nominating body and that he is representing it in the House. He is right to put the issue on the agenda because it is important, not least to those who are on dialysis and awaiting an organ donation and their families. It requires a sea change of opinion across the board. Senator Colm Burke is also correct. For a decade there was a missed opportunity when we did nothing, but now we must move forward and put things right.

I again refer to the Orkambi issue which was raised by Senators Mark Daly and Frank Feighan. This morning I met representatives of the drug company in question. They met Members in Leinster House yesterday and will do so again today. It is important that Vertex and the HSE which negotiates on behalf of the Government - the Government does not negotiate directly - engage meaningfully. I understand six meetings have been held in the past five months. We are talking about people's lives and their quality of life. There must be engagement and a willingness on the part of both Vertex and the HSE to enter into negotiations to present workable proposals to benefit those who need this much needed drug to improve their quality of life. I hope that, as a result of the statements to be made tomorrow, the visit of the Minister for Health to Lisbon today and the traction the issue has gained in the media in recent days and weeks, we will see movement on it. I must admit that I expected a different outcome to my discussion this morning with the representatives of Vertex. For what it is worth, I found them willing to engage and prepared to go to the table. I hope all sides can come to it and that we will see people's quality of life improve. Tomorrow afternoon we will have statements for an hour on the issue in order that we represent people's views to see if we can bring the matter to a resolution.

Senator Gerard P. Craughwell also referred to the Orkambi issue. I thank him for the remarks he made on the amendment made by the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Leo Varadkar, in connection with Independent News & Media.

Senators Paul Gavan, John O'Mahony, Frank Feighan and Niall Ó Donnghaile raised the issue of transport. I will be happy to have the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, come back to the House to discuss it. The issue of Bus Éireann is important. It is one we need to see resolved in the context of the provision of services for people living in both rural and urban areas. It transcends the urban-rural divide. The Minister has a duty to represent the taxpayer, as he is doing in highlighting a potential crisis in Bus Éireann which is loss-making. It is equally important that he come to the House to outline his plans in that regard.

I agree with Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile. As a former Chairman of an Oireachtas committee, I am conscious that there was significant benefit in engaging with our colleagues in the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont and equally at North-South Ministerial Council meetings. It is by working together that we can improve connectivity and outcomes for people, whether in health, as I had the pleasure to do in the previous Oireachtas, or elsewhere. It is important that we work on the issue. I will certainly be happy to have the Minister responsible come to the House to discuss it.

I thank Senator Kevin Humphreys for his remarks on the statements to be made today on climate action and low carbon development. I hope it will be the first of a rolling series of statements on what is an important issue that will not go away. We have responsibilities that we must honour, irrespective of who is in government.

Senator Robbie Gallagher raised an important topic - Missing Persons Day. I thank the groups which are highlighting a situation that is an absolute tragedy and heart-breaking for many families who are literally hoping every telephone call or turn of the door will lead to their loved one coming back. I commend the Senator for raising the matter in the House. I will certainly be happy to ask the relevant Minister for funding for the missing persons helpline.

Senator Maria Byrne raised the matter of flights from Shannon and Cork airports. As a representative from the Cork region, I welcome Norwegian Air's decision to commence flights between Cork and Boston. I am sure the Cathaoirleach will join me in doing so. It is an important development for Cork, one that will open up and be of considerable benefit to the region. I also welcome the announcement today of new jobs in Limerick.

Senator Máire Devine referred to the fine imposed on Pfizer. While the company refuted this in a statement this morning and it is the subject of an ongoing appeal, it is an issue on which we need to keep abreast of developments.

Senator Colm Burke referred to the cost of drugs. There is an agreement which, in many cases, will lead to a reduction in the price of drugs. While the cost of a basket of drugs has come down in recent years, I accept that we still have a long way to go.

On the issue of dampness and the provision of funding for housing, I will ask the Minister responsible to come to the House to discuss it.

Senator Michelle Mulherin, rightly, mentioned that last Saturday was Small Business Saturday. I hope small local businesses can be supported.

The Senator also referred to An Post and the AddressPal card. It is worrying that An Post is advertising through a UK link when the same value for money can be achieved through small and medium enterprises and businesses in local towns. It would be far better for An Post to engage in a strategic plan with local businesses in order that it can remain relevant and focused on small local towns. I hope it can do this in the future. The Senator is correct. I will be happy to have the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, come to the House to discuss the issue.

Senator Aidan Davitt mentioned Poison Awareness Day and the use of liquid detergent tablets. He highlighted the fact that 700 children a year were affected by taking such tablets. I will be happy to have the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Katharine Zappone, or the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, come to the House to discuss the issue.

Senator Rose Conway-Walsh raised the issue of coding. I am glad that she has welcomed the action plan for education which was discussed in the House recently with the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Richard Bruton. I commend the former Minister of State, Deputy Ciarán Cannon, who did a significant amount of work on the issue and the Minister for including coding in the curriculum. I will be happy to have him come back to the House to update us on the issue.

Senator Colm Burke referred to the cost of a basket of drugs. He also referred to organ donation, an issue on which I have touched.

Senator Mark Daly praised the Garda for its involvement in the locating of the greyhound Clares Rocket. I am pleased that it was found. It is a source of concern that, for whatever reason, people think they can apprehend a greyhound, a horse or a person. It is important that we recognise that the Garda does a considerable amount of work in communities and that its members put themselves at risk in doing so. I commend them for their work.

As I mentioned, Senator Mark Daly raised the issue of Orkambi.

It would be better if the drug company went on the public airwaves to explain the position, rather than hide behind a press statement. We are all receiving emails and telephone calls from patients and their family members and want to see all of them achieve a better outcome.

Senator Michael McDowell referred to an article in today's edition of The Irish Times. I have not seen it, but the Senator has the right of reply to the newspaper. He could put pen to paper which he is very good at doing and write to the editor.

The Leader should not worry. I will get around to doing it.

I sent a letter this very morning.

Yes, I saw it. I commend the Senator for his very fine letter defending the Seanad. To be serious, we have been very well served by the members of the Judiciary.

Hear, hear.

They are independent and have been fair and balanced in their willingness to judge and impart their decisions. It has always been about the case in question, not their viewpoint or whatever else.

Absolutely.

It is important that we have a period of calm and do not engage in hyperbole. We must not transcend the line between the Executive and the Judiciary, which must remain clear. The programme for Government is committed to making significant reforms in the process used in the making of judicial appointments, but it is my personal view that the Chief Justice should play a role in that regard. It is important that we allow for an input into the changing of the process. I would not like people to hold the view that members of the Judiciary are appointed on the basis of political cronyism. It is my experience that they are appointed based on their experience, expertise and competency. We should not engage in a war with them on the issue. I hope we will see that process being undertaken in the new year.

I hope Senator Mark Daly will withdraw the amendment he proposed to the Order of Business because we will have a debate on the issue to which he referred tomorrow afternoon.

Senator Mark Daly has proposed an amendment to the Order of Business: "That No. 27, non-Government motion No. 12, be taken today." Is the amendment being pressed?

No. I withdraw the amendment.