I would like to be associated with the expressions of sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives during Storm Ophelia.

I welcome the initial responses to the public consultation conducted by the agricultural markets task force established by EU Commissioner Hogan. This task force seeks to introduce fairness into the European food supply chain, particularly in respect of the agricultural sector.

It is particularly welcome that a majority of stakeholders, non-governmental organisations, NGOs, member states, farmers' groups, and the list goes on, are saying that the weak position of farmers in the food supply chain needs to be addressed and changed at EU level. We know, and I have raised this several times, that the weak position of the farmer causes problems in regard to his income and the sustainability of farming. Farmers are at the mercy of big meat factories and multiple retailers. That is well known. When this public consultation is concluded. the European Commission needs to formulate a response. I have no doubt that is what Commissioner Hogan will do. I would like us to extend an invitation to him. This is a critical issue for farmers. They complain repeatedly that they produce meat, vegetables etc. which are sold as loss leaders in multiple retailers. They are victims of the pricing in factories and they face myriad problems because of their position. There are ways and means, including the potential use of value-sharing agreements, to ensure that bonuses and losses resulting from evolutions in market prices are shared. It would be opportune to bring in the Commissioner as the EU response is being formulated in order that we can make an input into that.

Great credit is due to the Government and all involved in the authorities and various agencies in preparing for Storm Ophelia. Their approach was to get us to expect the worst but hope for the best. It was a very good approach to take. I join those who have expressed their sorrow that three people lost their lives and in expressing sympathy with their families. Ar dheis Dé go raibh siad. I wonder how Ireland still manages to be rearing its share of lúdramáns who put themselves in danger and potentially make the job of the emergency services and heroes who are out to look after us all on a day like yesterday, harder. It is hard to fathom.

The increase in stamp duty on commercial property transactions from 2% to 6% as per last week's budget is of concern to farmers. The decision to extend the reduced stamp duty rate of 1% for transfers between family members and to maintain the young trained farmer stamp duty are positive. I agree with the president of the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, Joe Healy, who said that these measures are important to support the timely and structured transfer of family farms. It is known that the Minister for Finance is likely to reverse the steep increase in stamp duty for non-residential land for a small group of farmers inheriting land from family members. It is essential, however, that this action will serve those who do not currently qualify for the consanguinity exemption, that is, those who are to inherit active farming land from a family member who is over 67 years of age. The Irish Farmers' Journal reported that one farmer's son from Tipperary, whose father was aged over 67, saw his stamp duty bill for taking over the farm rise from €25,000 to €75,000 and, to quote that farmer, Bill Burke, "It makes it an unpayable amount."

People are often blinded by the value of farming assets but they forget how difficult it is to turn that farming asset into anything like a decent income. That is why it is not a case of farmers engaging in special pleading. Farming is a difficult business. It is difficult to make a livelihood, especially for small farmers.

I hope the Government will make the necessary amendments to facilitate the transfer of land, particularly at this time when there is a desire to encourage young people to get into farming. It would be a very bad thing if the necessary changes were not made.

I dtosach, ba mhaith liom tacú leis an méid atá ráite ó thaobh comhbhrón a dhéanamh le muintireacha an dream a bhásaigh sa stoirm inné. Ba mhaith liom comhbhrón a dhéanamh freisin le cairde, muintir agus comhghleacaithe Fheargal Ó Cuilinn a bhásaigh roinnt laethanta ó shin agus atá á chur inniu. Bhí Feargal ag obair leis an eagraíocht Glór na nGael le roinnt blianta anuas. Ba fhear óg é a bhásaigh i mbealach aisteach go leor. Thit sé i dtinneas an lá a raibh Cluiche Ceannais na hÉireann á imirt. Bhí Baile Átha Cliath ag imirt. Ba fan mór leis na Dubs é. Níor tháinig sé as an tinneas sin. Ba fhear óg é agus bhí clann óg aige. Is mór an chailliúint é. Ba fhear é a bhí díograiseach agus gealgháireach i gcónaí ó thaobh na Gaeilge. Bhí sé ag gach ócáid a raibh tábhacht ar bith leis a bhain le saol na Gaeilge agus thug sé an-tacaíocht do dhaoine thar na blianta. Déanaim comhbhrón le gach duine a bhain leis.

The situation in Catalonia is getting very worrying, with the head of the Catalan National Assembly, Jordi Sanchez, and the head of Omnium Cultural, Jordi Cuixart, being kept in custody. It is also worrying that the chief of the Catalan police, Josep Lluis Trapero, is facing charges. The two Jordis are the main pro-independence leaders of what are civic society organisations in Catalonia. In an Irish context it would look like the ard-rúnaí of Conradh na Gaeilge or the president of the GAA being sent to prison because they organised peaceful protests. It is a huge issue and is worrying.

Can Senators imagine if this Government had decided to imprison the people who organised the Right2Water protests? It is on the same scale and it is a very serious infringement of human rights. It is about time our Government got off the fence on the issue, it is about time the EU got off the fence on the issue and it is about time the international community got off the fence on the issue. We need to stop the bullyboy tactics from Madrid and put in place an international talks and mediation process outside the politicised courts of the Spanish system. We need an urgent debate and I call on the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, or the Taoiseach, to come to the House to debate the issue.

I would also like to be associated with the expression of sympathies to the families of the three people who died in the past few days. They suffered a tragic loss. It is important to commend all the work done in the past 72 hours, at national level down to local community level, where people put their shoulder to the wheel to ensure those people who had to travel could travel safely. The situation was very carefully managed.

I join with Senator Mullen in raising concerns about stamp duty. There are two sides to this and one of them relates to the need to ensure good planning is carried out in respect of farm transfers. There was not a huge disincentive in respect of transferring at an earlier stage and that has to be changed but there are difficulties and a number of issues need to be resolved. The issues around the transfer of assets and elderly care need to be looked at more carefully and we need to get a lot more information out there.

Recently, I came across a situation where a person who is being admitted to a nursing home has not transferred land and there has been no long-term planning. As a result of a medical condition, the person in question cannot now make any decisions. On Friday, I was with an elderly retirement group whose attitude was that they wanted to continue to live in their own homes for as long as possible.

We need to get out a great deal more information on long-term planning and elderly care because we are not doing enough. We also need to address the question of enduring powers of attorney and other issues on which we are also not getting out enough information. It is something we need to do. We need to plan in order that the maximum number of people can stay in their homes for as long as possible.