I join Senator Ardagh in her appeal for people to donate blood. Yesterday, the Minister for Health appealed to people to donate blood and made a very strong statement on the matter. The Irish Blood Transfusion Service has requested people to donate. I ask Members of the House to encourage people to donate blood through social media and other means. Senator Ardagh is 100% correct when she said people require blood for a variety of different reasons. It is imperative that we, through this Chamber and our own offices, appeal to people to donate blood. As much as one in four people will require a blood transfusion at some stage of their lives. As Senator Ardagh has said, many people need blood donations now because the blood supply has been severely depleted due to the storm. It is important that blood donors, and those who would like to become blood donors, donate now. I urge people to visit donation clinics. There is information available on this matter. It is important that Senators support the call to donate blood, and I join Senator Ardagh in doing that.

Will the Leader give way so that I can make a point?

Am I allowed? I am happy to take a point.

I am not allowed to take a response to the Order of Business.

The Leader said he would give way.

I appeal to the Chamber to allow the Leader to continue without interruption.

I am happy to take the comment if it is about blood supply.

It is really just to make the point that it came to my knowledge in recent weeks that, if someone from this State was resident in the North during the BSE crisis, he or she is prohibited from giving blood. That applies to people from the North who have moved. I think it is madness. It is crazy and needs to be looked into. Maybe in the broader context of that debate, that can be focused on.

The Leader can respond to that.

The Leas-Chathaoirleach is very kind.

The Senator's point is worth pursuing and I accept that. It is beyond my jurisdiction but I would be happy to support him in that.

Senator Ardagh's point is sincere and important. To put it in context for Members of the House and those watching, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service is aiming to collect 7,000 donations between now and St. Patrick's weekend. We should all support that call. I appeal to Members here to support that too.

Senator Boyhan raised the issue of Dún Laoghaire Harbour. I know a meeting was scheduled for yesterday in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. It is an amenity and an asset of huge importance to the State. The issue that the Senator raised is particularly pertinent with regard to the council having to incur the cost. I would be happy to have that debate. As a matter of urgency, the Senator might find it better to raise it as a Commencement matter. It should not be underestimated.

The Minister has not confided in me about the date for the Seanad by-election but I am sure he will inform us all in due course about moving the writ.

I express the view to Senator Conway-Walsh that we were very fortunate that the farming community came to the rescue of so many people during the course of the storm. I apologise if I misinterpreted the Senator's remarks but I hope she was not saying that Europe is bad for Irish farming, because Europe has been very good.