The Order of Business is No. 1, Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016 - Report and Final Stages, to be taken at 4.45 p.m.

I convey my sympathy and that of the Fianna Fáil group to the families of Ms Clare O'Neill, County Waterford, Mr. Michael Pyke, County Tipperary, and Mr. Fintan Goss, County Louth, who tragically lost their lives yesterday in Hurricane Ophelia.

I congratulate those who worked tirelessly yesterday on the front line from the ESB, Dublin and other fire brigade services around the country, the Army and the Garda Síochána. Their work ensured that we could go to work today on safe roads as they took it on themselves to go out and clear the fallen trees from the roads. We should be very grateful.

Met Éireann did a great job in highlighting the clear and present danger and that it was incumbent on all of us to stay indoors to ensure that no further accidents occurred. I believe the work that Met Éireann and RTÉ did yesterday mitigated more loss and prevented further tragedy.

Let me convey my disappointment with those who went against orders and were out kite surfing or swimming yesterday. I think it should be illegal to put the lives of front-line service men and women in that danger. We should mark it by having a debate on that issue in this House.

In addition to the financial cost to the country, it is estimated that Hurricane Ophelia caused approximately €800 million of damage. I understand the insurance companies will pay out for damage. We should call on the Government to actively engage with the insurance companies so that the money is paid out in a most efficient and timely manner.

I congratulate those who supported the people who sleep rough, in particular Brother Kevin and the Capuchin Day Centre. With the onset of global warming, these types of storms will become more frequent. We need to ensure that were such weather events to recur, we would be prepared, and have services in place for those without a roof over their head, especially in light of the growing number of homeless people. I call for a debate on the action the Government will take to deal with emergencies that might happen.

I extend my sympathy to the families who lost their loved ones yesterday. It is tragic that such things happen.

I sat and watched the television yesterday and I saw what I would call a clown in Blackrock, Galway, walking along the diving tower to go in for a swim. It might interest the House to know that the tower is there as a direct result of my father saving a woman's life during a riptide in Blackrock in 1947. It was dangerous then when there was no tower, but it is twice as dangerous now.

We should look at legislation that would provide for people to be charged with reckless endangerment and, if necessary, put in jail. Somebody suggested last night that there should be a fine for this type of behaviour. How much of a fine would pay for the loss of a rescuer's life in a situation like that?

I congratulate the Government on an excellent job of preparedness, and for the excellent co-ordination of services throughout the storm. The Taoiseach and his Minister have been a credit to this country. However, there is always a downside. This morning I listened to the Minister of State with responsibility for Defence, Deputy Paul Kehoe, and was absolutely horrified that he would mislead the country in the way he did. He spoke about engineering units being available in every barracks in the country to assist the local authorities. There are no engineering units in counties Donegal, Galway, Limerick or Kilkenny. A third of an engineering unit is available in Dublin, two thirds of an engineering unit is available in Athlone. There is one full engineering unit, as we learned during the Donegal floods, available in Cork. We know that because they brought the bailey bridge to Donegal. The Minister of State spoke about members of the Defence Forces being available with chainsaws to cut down felled trees. There are two qualified chain saw operators covering the entire northern section of the country in a line from Dublin to Galway. I wonder how useful they will be in the entire counties of Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Donegal, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth. This is shameful misleading of the public.

I believe that the Minister misled the public this morning. He should come to this House this afternoon and explain where precisely are the resources he is talking about. He spoke about plant being available. There are two pieces of plant available in this country from the Defence Forces right now for an emergency situation like this. It is outrageous, when the Government has gone so far to build the confidence of the people of this country on our preparedness to deal with a crisis, that one Minister would tell what can only be described as blatant lies. I am asking for the Order of Business to be amended to bring the Minister before the House.

I thank the Senator.

On a point of order, a Chathaoirligh, Senator Craughwell should withdraw the use of the word "lie".

The Leader should let me handle it.

Senator Craughwell should be asked to withdraw the word "lie". He should be asked to withdraw that now.

Leader, please allow the Chair to handle this. It is totally inappropriate language that Senator Craughwell would call any Minister or anybody else who is not here to defend himself or herself a "liar". I ask Senator Craughwell to formally withdraw the remark.

I substitute the word "misleading" for "lies".

The Senator is clarifying the position.

Yes.

Thank you. I call Senator Devine.