The Cathaoirleach is a very patient man. On a serious note, I thank on behalf of the House everyone who was so proactive in the recovery from the storm. I thank local authorities, the ESB, Met Éireann, our first responders, the Army and everyone else who has been involved, including volunteers. Senator Lombard understated the damage done to his property and we lost three people, which we should never forget. We could have lost more of our fellow citizens and should be mindful of the families in mourning today. Senator Grace O'Sullivan referred to the code yellow alert, which I will come back to. It is important that people remain vigilant.

While I agree with Senator Craughwell that it is extraordinary that no one has been put in prison, we have a judicial system with which we cannot interfere. It is something we need to look at.

I do not have the answer for Senator Ó Clochartaigh on the budgetary matter. I have asked the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, to come to the House. He has, unfortunately, been away for the past couple of weeks, but it is on the agenda to have him attend. I would love to be able to facilitate the Senator's debate on Catalonia today, but the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, is not available. It is somewhat premature to have a debate on Catalonia at this stage given that it is an evolving situation.

So is Brexit.

If I may, Brexit affects us specifically as a country and as an island.

This could also affect us.

A decision has been taken on Brexit but no decision has been taken in Catalonia as of yet, at least not by the Spanish Government.

There absolutely has been.

My point is that rather than divide the House, we should accept that the Minister is unavailable. I understand the Senator's motivation in seeking the debate. If he wants to have it without the Minister, he can do that this afternoon, but it will not serve what I think is his purpose. If the Senator withdraws his proposal to amend the Order of Business, we will endeavour to facilitate a debate next week or, if that is not possible, the week after we come back from the mid-term break. I have checked for the Senator and it is genuinely the case that the Minister is unavailable.

Senator Grace O'Sullivan referred to climate change. We have already had a debate in the House on that and have four further debates coming on the national transition standards and with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment itself. The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten, will be in the House. The Minister has gained in the budget an increase in funding for energy efficiency and the move away from diesel and petrol to electric cars. He is taking renewable energy very seriously as part of our plan to meet emissions reduction targets and he is very committed to meeting our commitments, not to renege on them. I would be happy to have him come to the House to discuss the matter Senator O'Sullivan raised. She referred to the status yellow warning for the weekend. It is another issue that is not going to go away. We are going to have more severe weather alerts and events as a consequence of global warming. Senator Warfield referred to President Trump and there are other Members of the Oireachtas who think global warming is not here when it is. It is not going away. As a nation, we have a duty to work to ensure our environment is protected and that we mitigate the effects of global warming to improve our outcomes. I would be happy to have that debate.

I will come back to Senator Nash with the signature of the Tánaiste on the order. He will have that. The issue the Senator raised is important as it is about construction workers. However, I do not have the answer for him now.

Senators Coghlan and Wilson raised the issue of the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution which met yesterday. The committee's work is continuing to the end of the Dáil and Seanad terms on 20 December or thereabouts. Yesterday, the committee decided to have a vote, but some members of the committee were not of that view. However, we decided as a committee to vote in a modular manner. It is a very complex and sensitive matter and there are differing viewpoints. I challenge and urge all Members to read the papers presented to the committee. It is fine to have a predetermined outlook, but the whole purpose of the committee is to have an informed debate on a very complex matter which has bedevilled our society. There are differing viewpoints which we must respect. What the committee took a decision on yesterday was to vote not to retain Article 40.3.3o. The committee is continuing to examine the matter but no decision has been made by it on the question to be put to the people. What was decided was that there would be a referendum in which the people will decide. That is all that has been decided. Ultimately, the people will vote "Yes" or "No" in whatever way they want.

But not to retain it in full.

It is the people's decision. The Government has decided that there will be a referendum and the people will vote on it. Senator Coghlan will have an opportunity, as will everyone else, to vote as he chooses. That is the principle of democracy which we fought to have. It is the right to delete or retain. That is the prerogative. The debate will happen at a later time in a referendum campaign in which I am sure the Senator will play a full and frank part.

Please God.

I am happy to accept Senator Gallagher's proposed amendment to the Order of Business. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, has been before the House to deal with the fodder crisis issue in the past. I am happy to have the debate as the point the Senator raises is a valid one.

Senator James Reilly referred to Sparkassen banks and also to the fraudulent phone calls issue. The advice is not to return the calls and I welcome the fact that 3 has blocked the number. It is important to provide a mechanism whereby vulnerable citizens are prevented from having to return those calls.

Senator Devine referred to credit unions on international credit union day. I do not have the information on the specific issue she raised to hand but I will be happy to have the Minister revert to her.

Senator Black referred to the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill. I know she had to leave but it is a pity she did not talk to her colleagues. We hope to have the Bill back in the House after the mid-term break. The sittings of the House are a matter for the House and it ill behoves Members to come in and be critical of what we do. There are enough people doing that. We do not have to sit three days, two days or one day. It is for us to determine our schedule. We do not mirror the Dáil. If one looks at the timetable or agenda for the Dáil, one will see that there are built-in set pieces around Question Time, Leaders' Questions and the Order of Business which we do not have. If one strips that away, what happens in the Dáil is no different from what happens here.

As Leader, I have met with the group leaders every week to agree business. We have made provision for additional Private Members' business. We have tried to be inclusive. If Members have other ideas, that is fine. There is no point enacting legislation that is flawed and going nowhere. That would not serve the House well. The alcohol Bill is important. It is not being blocked or held up by me or the Government. We must ensure that the Bill as drafted can be passed and enacted to benefit people. I agree with Senator Black on the need for a collective response to the issue of alcohol and the misuse of alcohol.

I have already responded to the points raised by Senators Lombard and Wilson.

Senator Burke raised the important point of costs in relation to flying out of Dublin. I agree it is an issue on which we need to have a debate.

In regard to the point raised by Senator McDowell, I would be happy to have the Minister come to the House for a debate on the local property tax. I note that the matter was the subject of a newsletter issued to people the Senator purports to represent. However, the point raised by the Senator is an important one and I would be happy to ask the Minister to come to the House for that debate.

On the point raised by Senator Warfield, I do not have information on the status of the review. This Government, like the previous Government, is committed to the rights of transgender people. I am happy to discuss with the Senator how we can have that matter progressed. It is to be welcomed that we have a Minister who is so supportive. Equally, the work being done by Senator Warfield is commendable.

Senator Byrne raised the issue of the ESRI report produced by Emer Smyth. It is an important report which points to the importance of mindfulness and well-being in our schools and the relationships and synergies that can be built up.

In regard to the point raised by Senator Ruane, I was not aware that the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, had made those remarks. The Government is committed to legislating for and funding initiatives to tackle sexual abuse and violence. Legislation in this area has been already passed in this House and there is further legislation coming down the tracks. While I can follow up on the matter, the Senator might get a quicker response if she tables it for discussion as a Commencement matter. I am happy to discuss the matter further with the Senator.

On the point raised by Senator Murnane O'Connor, we are all agreed on the need for equality of opportunity for men and women although the Senator raised the issue of women in particular in terms of pay and so on. I would be happy to work with her to advance that issue.

I would appreciate it if Senator Ó Clochartaigh could defer his motion because the Minister is not available today.