On behalf of the Sinn Féin team, I extend condolences and sympathies to the families, friends, and communities of Fintan Goss in Louth, Clare O'Neill in Waterford and Michael Pyke in Tipperary, and on other tragic losses in the wake of the destructive Storm Ophelia. I also convey our thanks to the front-line workers, the fire and ambulance crews, the accident and emergency staff, the ESB crews, and the local authority emergency teams. They make us proud.

I would like this House to congratulate the President-to-be from tomorrow of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, RCPI, Professor Mary Horgan. She will be the first woman to hold the post of President of the college in its 363 year history. She will be appointed tomorrow, and not before time.

I want to bring up the issues of the gender pay gap and pensions. Last December, the very first motion put forward by Sinn Féin's social protection team was on the 2002 pension changes which amended the pension system such that it saw women being more likely to lose out. They are far more likely to have smaller State pensions than their male counterparts and are less likely to have occupational or private pensions. I see there is a motion on the subject tabled by the Fianna Fáil Party which is to be discussed tomorrow night in the Dáil, and I welcome that, although it is a bit late. Fianna Fáil refused to support our motion in December and got out of it by supporting an amendment instead. That amendment did not make a clear call and was useless. I hope Fianna Fáil will deal with urgency with the motion tomorrow night.

I raise the issue of the detention of the Catalan independence leaders. I would like the Leader to call on the EU to engage in urgent international mediation and dialogue. The EU espouses and likes to trumpet loudly the values of free speech, free association and democracy, but it seems to be silent at the moment.

Today is world day against hunger. We also heard about the recent terrible bombings in Mogadishu in Somalia. Up to 300 people were killed and clearly multiples of that number will have been injured, with whole families destroyed. At home we had Hurricane Ophelia, and while it is true to say that things are relative in this world, there are three families, one in Waterford, one in Tipperary, and one in Louth, that are ripped apart and will be so forever as a result of their tragic losses yesterday.

I want to focus on a particular issue related to yesterday, namely, Irish Sign Language interpretation. I want to show appreciation for the swift action that was taken when issues were raised by my office directly with RTÉ and with the Minister of State, Deputy Moran. In particular I thank the Leader of this House, Senator Buttimer, for his support yesterday afternoon in making sure that there was Irish Sign Language interpretation for the media briefings.

I seek a number of assurances, including that the Office of Emergency Planning would have sign language interpretation for all such media briefings; that local authorities would have a register of people, including people with disabilities and various illnesses, who are vulnerable in terms of their households not having an electricity supply; that there would be a review, when we are over this, of measures for people with disabilities and others who are vulnerable in respect of emergencies; and that Members remember that we have signed up to the sustainable development goals, which clearly refer to people with disabilities and others when it comes to emergency situations.

As others have done, I want to thank neighbours, community groups and volunteers and commend the national Government and local government response, notwithstanding the criticisms I have. All our public services performed well over the weekend and yesterday, alongside local community groups and local efforts. It is great to know that Ireland can pull all its public services and community groups together. I would love to see the day when this is our everyday response to the needs of people, as distinct from this being something we pull out of the hat when there is an emergency. Can the Oireachtas lead the way? We should respond like this to people and their needs on an ongoing basis.

Go raibh maith agat. I call Senator Humphreys.

Like so many others, I extend my sympathies to the families who lost their nearest and dearest yesterday. It truly is a tragedy for those families. Like many others, I want to thank the services that turned out so well, including the Garda Síochánna, the ESB, Irish Water and the local authority workers. I was looking at social media on Monday morning, and there were people criticising the local authority workers in Dublin for clearing up leaves. I witnessed local authority workers in my area clearing leaves. They were blocking gullies, which could have led to flooding. It is so easy to criticise, but I want to commend the work done. While many of us were safe at home, ambulance and fire brigade personnel and local authority workers were out doing their jobs. We have to say thank you loudly and clearly to them, and stop nitpicking.

I have to say that the Government got it right. Ministers worked exceptionally well together and they worked hard to make sure there was a good response to the storm. I will not nitpick. By and large, the response by the Government was excellent. Certainly, we always have lessons to learn, and we can improve.

Unfortunately, however, this is going to happen more often. Climate change is a reality, despite Deputy Danny Healy-Rae denying it and saying God controls the weather. Sea temperatures are increasing. This storm formed over an area of sea, the temperature of which has risen by 2° Celsius. It is a one-in-50 year event. All we can be certain about is that this is going to happen more often. The House has a responsibility to show leadership. We need to show very clear leadership in relation to climate change, and to plan for it. Unfortunately, since we put climate change legislation through the Seanad and the Dáil two years ago, very little has happened. I am still waiting to see a proper plan from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, because transport emissions are increasing, not diminishing.

I call on the Leader to pass on my compliments to the Taoiseach and the Ministers for working exceptionally hard over the weekend and, by and large, getting it right, although we can always improve, as I said. However, I certainly would like a full debate in this House on the measures the people and the Government can take in relation to our carbon footprint and the effect that can have on climate change. Ireland is a small country, but one thing we can show in relation to climate change is leadership. We need to show that leadership, otherwise we will see this happening much more frequently. The environment we pass on to our children and our great-grandchildren is certainly going to be far worse than what was passed on to us.

Go raibh maith agat. I call Senator Joe O'Reilly.

There is a unanimous view, which I have picked up anecdotally everywhere, that the Taoiseach and Government Ministers deserve congratulations for the way in which they managed this situation and that their clear messaging and leadership was exemplary. I am impressed that has been acknowledged across the floor today.

The agencies, An Garda Síochána, the Army and all the various emergency services excelled themselves and did an exceptional job. I am delighted to join in congratulating them and our local authorities. Our council in Cavan was very proactive in removing fallen trees and so on. We did not get the worst of the storm but the council was exceptionally effective. All of that is good. I also congratulate Met Éireann. Everybody did their part and we can be proud, as a people, of the way it was handled. Of course I want to convey my sympathy, as did others, to the three bereaved families. For them it is a horrendous and shocking tragedy. I agree with Senator Craughwell in respect of the people who were out on the pier in Salthill. I could not agree more. Action needs to be taken. I agree with Senator Ardagh and also commend to the Leader that this question be looked at by way of a special debate.

I want to raise one very specific, distinct and new aspect in respect of the storm. I personally find seeing nice trees along our roadsides aesthetically pleasing, beautiful, lovely and idyllic on some occasions. They are part of the tapestry of rural Ireland and they are nice. However, when we consider the three bereaved families today, I put to the Leader that the relevant Minister should come to the House to discuss the need to remove and ban trees within 40 m of either side of a roadway. In other words they should be set back from the road a distance equal to the height of the tallest tree. The logic of this measure is that we are going to have more of these storms, as has repeatedly been said in this debate and has been suggested by the science. We cannot have a situation in which a tree can fall on a car. It has the potential to kill somebody. Despite aesthetics and the fact that we would love to have our trees there, they have to go. That is a lesson from yesterday. Had this been done, those families would not be in the position they are in today. Into the future this must be done. I commend a special debate to the Leader on removing trees from the side of the road to a distance equal to the length of the tallest possible tree. We have no option on this. Sadly, the reality is that we need to do it.

I applaud all those people who visited their elderly neighbours yesterday and who asked them whether they needed any groceries from the shop before the storm hit, who helped them secure their homes and who ensured they had torches or candles at hand should the power fail. These are small actions which made an enormous difference. It is unfortunate that it takes something such as a major weather warning for us to realise our neighbours may need some assistance or even reassurance in some cases.

Recently physicians and researchers examined the impact of loneliness and social isolation on health, well-being and mortality. The data are overwhelming and suggest "a lonely person is significantly more likely to suffer an early death than a non-lonely one". As a nation we are ageing and the percentage of people over 70 is growing faster than the rest of the population. Added to this is the rise in single-person households. We are beginning to see the impact of loneliness and isolation and therefore, new policy approaches are needed. Much is said about rural isolation and lack of services, which of course is true, but when I worked as a general practitioner in Finglas, the exact same issues of loneliness and isolation existed in the heart of a busy community.

I recommend that Senators consider the Campaign to End Loneliness in the UK. It is a powerful and evocative campaign that really makes one think about the human consequence of loneliness and isolation. This highlights the need to look out for our neighbours not just during a storm, but every day.

The political scientist Robert Putnam wrote an excellent book called Bowling Alone in which he warned that our stock of social capital, that is, the very fabric of our connections with one other, has plummeted recently, damaging all our lives and communities. We need an urgent debate on the issue of loneliness and how it has an impact upon the more senior members of our society both in rural and city settings.

I extend my sincere sympathies to the families of the three people who were killed yesterday. Their deaths show the dangers of these types of storms, of which, as previous speakers noted, we will have many more as a result of climate change. I congratulate the Taoiseach and Ministers on their preparedness for yesterday and on the way in which they handled the situation. They were at the top of their game. While some people criticised as unnecessary the decision to have schools remain closed today, I believe it was the right decision to make because we did not know how bad the damage was. The loss of life would have been much greater if warnings had not issued.

As a Galwegian, I have jumped off the diving boards at Salthill many times. I can think of a worse word than "clowns" for those who were swimming in Salthill yesterday. Their outrageous actions placed first responders in extreme danger. I agree with previous speakers that, in such circumstances, it should be a criminal offence to ignore warnings and that those who do so should be fined. It was heartening yesterday to see the storm bring out the best in people and a community spirit. Listening to the radio yesterday afternoon, I heard the owners of guest houses and hotels offer free beds to people who found themselves stranded. The storm served as a warning to us. I congratulate all of those involved, including the public servants in various Departments.

I sympathise with those who lost loved ones in yesterday's storm. I join other Senators in commending the members of the emergency services and first responders who did sterling work yesterday and who will continue to do such work for some days. I also commend the Government on its preparedness and the preparations that took place, without which the loss of life would have been greater.

I do not agree with my near namesake, Senator Joe O'Reilly, on the issue of trees. Not only are trees aesthetic living forms, they are also the lungs of the world. While I fully understand the rationale for his proposal and his good intentions, his suggestion is not practical.

I echo the comments of previous speakers regarding those who ignored the advice that was given and placed themselves and others who were required to intervene in great danger. We did a morning surgery yesterday and closed for the afternoon because the storm was due. Returning home, I saw a young man cycling a bicycle which I could not believe in light of the warning that had been issued. It is not only that people took foolish chances at sea but given the strong advice not to cycle, I found it extraordinary to see someone cycling yesterday. I expect that the young man in question was under 18 years of age and I wonder what his parents were thinking and doing about this. He could easily have been hit by a gust of wind and knocked into the path of a car. As I stated, the people who engage in this behaviour put not only themselves but also put the first responders who have to deal with the fallout from their actions in danger.

I raise the cases of people whose premises and businesses suffered severe damage, particularly those who cannot get insurance. My understanding from those involved in horticulture - a major industry in my area that supplies more than 50% of vegetables to the country - is that it is nigh on impossible to insure a glass house or polytunnel. Many horticulturists and nursery owners suffered severe damage to their property yesterday. I hope the Government will take full advantage of the European Union fund established to deal with such natural disasters in order that we can put money aside to help people to deal with the losses they sustained as a consequence of yesterday's storm.

The most important thing today is to commend all the men and women who work in the services and the first responders who have performed such sterling work over the past 24 to 48 hours and who continue to do so. As Senator Lawless pointed out, many people showed tremendous generosity and care for their neighbours and for others during this time of difficulty for some of our most vulnerable citizens.

I second the motion by Senator Craughwell to the effect that the Minister should come before the House. I wish to express my sympathy and condolences to the families and friends of the three people, Clare O'Neill, Fintan Goss and Michael Pyke, who lost their lives yesterday. I thank the emergency services who attended any of the incidents yesterday for all the great work they did. I acknowledge and thank all the neighbours, friends and people who checked in on the vulnerable and the elderly, not least those doing home help and care work right across the country. They showed the true Irish spirit in the work they carried out in very difficult circumstances. I particularly thank the regional radio stations, in my own case Midwest Radio, which kept people up to date on everything that was happening throughout the day and about the services that were available through the local authorities and so on. It really goes to show the importance of local radio and how the sector should be supported.

I really cannot find words to condemn those who, by their own arrogance, misdemeanours and actions, put the lives of emergency service personnel at risk. It was particularly poignant for us in Erris when the R116 crew had to be called out. I cannot imagine what the families of those who were bereaved in the R116 tragedy must have thought yesterday as these services had to be called out in Blackrock, County Louth. The attempts today by those persons to try to defend their actions are even worse, as if they somehow have real and knowledgeable expertise of the sea. I did not see any fishermen putting out to sea yesterday. If anybody has knowledge of the sea and what it is about, then it is the fishermen in our coastal communities. Something must be done to ensure that people do not declare themselves to be above the law or not within it when a national emergency such as this is called. I call for legislation to be put in place in order that huge fines might be imposed on people who put the lives of others at risk.

I too wish to pay my condolences to the families who lost loved ones yesterday's storm.

I wish to express shock and outrage that the brave journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who led the Panama papers investigation into corruption in Malta, was tragically killed by a car bomb near her home on Monday. I extend my deepest sympathy to her family and friends. This is not just a tragic loss of life, it is a clear attack on democracy that was carried out in broad daylight in an EU member state. Ms Galizia did what investigative journalists are supposed to do. She showed bravery in asking difficult questions of those in power. She never relented in pointing the finger at corruption at the highest political levels, such as activities involving offshore accounts and money laundering. She was murdered for asking these questions. In her final blog post less than one hour before she was killed she warned, "There are crooks everywhere you look now. The situation is desperate." This morning, her son Matthew stated, "My mother was assassinated because she stood between the rule of law and those who sought to violate it." This is an absolute disgrace and should resonate with everyone in Ireland and in this House. I cannot help but think of Veronica Guerin, another brave woman journalist, who was murdered for speaking truth to power and for standing up to corruption and criminality. Has the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade formally expressed his outrage and offered Ireland's assistance wherever it may be needed?

I, too, would like to pay my condolences to all the families who lost loved ones in yesterday's storm.

I congratulate the Taoiseach, the emergency services and all the Departments on getting the message out early.

It was a disgrace to see those going for a swim in Galway or kite surfing and I agree with Members that penalties should be imposed on such people. Those in the emergency services do not have a choice as to when they are called out, but those who were swimming and kite surfing did have a choice. What would have happened if there was an emergency down the country? The resources of our helicopter services and emergency services are limited. Shame on those people.

Three people lost their lives due to tree falls. In my county, all roads were blocked in Trim due to tree falls and Athboy, Oldcastle and certain areas of Navan had no power. This morning, I received a telephone call from a gentleman who worked throughout the country with Kelly's roadmarking company. He told me that the number of rotten trees and trees planted on roadsides is inappropriate. We are all aware of the vital role of trees and their benefit to our economy and environment, particularly visually, as part of our infrastructure. This is especially so in our cities. However, the benefits are only achieved with strategic planting and aftercare. I do not see a whole lot of aftercare when trees are planted in estates and at the sides of roads. They are just left there to grow into monstrosities. This can have a negative impact and lead to a variety of health and safety concerns. Inappropriate species of trees on roads and streets need to be urgently addressed by the Minister with responsibility for the environment and local government.