As there is nobody present from the Independent group, I call Senator Gavan.

Brexit is really exercising minds. I was speaking to a group in Dublin yesterday, including some international politicians and it looks now as though we could be well heading for a hard Brexit, which would be an absolute disaster. Anyone who heard John Redwood on the radio yesterday would immediately recognise that these are not rational people-----

Hear, hear.

They are not people with whom one can reason. Moreover, they have the worst of pacts with the DUP. It is ironic in one respect because some colleagues in this House criticise Sinn Féin for not reaching agreement with the DUP but I have absolute sympathy for the Government and for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, for their inability to reach agreement with the DUP, because these people are not acting rationally. It is clear that Brexit is not in the interests of anyone in this country, North or South, yet the DUP continues to cling to this. We are looking at a Tory-DUP bounced no-deal Brexit at this point in time.

I commend the position the Government has taken on the backstop, but I am worried by the comments that seem to be floating around Europe about postponing the backstop, which we heard about today. I have no great faith in the European Union, given our experience during the years of austerity.

We need a wider debate at this point. I am requesting such a debate, particularly in the context of what else is required. There have been a number of excellent reports, including that by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation which highlighted the fact that we would need to look at the fiscal compact rules and ensure an exception is made for Ireland. There will also be a need for an exception to be made in the context of state aid rules because if we are heading for a hard Brexit - even if we are not - Ireland has a very special case. The fact that only 13% of our exports go to the UK is sometimes mentioned but it must be recognised that over 40% of our indigenous business exports go to the UK. There is no doubt that we are in a very precarious situation. I call for a debate on that as a matter of urgency. From Sinn Féin's point of view, there can be no weakening of opposition in terms of insisting that the backstop be the backstop and that there be nothing further in that regard.

I want to ask about the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017, which was due to be before the House three weeks ago. There seems to be a problem with the Bill. Notwithstanding the fact that not everything in it is to my liking, it is worthwhile legislation. It will take steps to protect people in precarious work and to improve their position. As already stated, there seems to be a problem with the Bill. I genuinely extend an offer of assistance to the Leader. If there are problems with the Bill, my party is more than willing to work with the Government to ensure they are overcome. That Bill needs to be brought before the House because, for every week that does not happen, more workers are being left in precarious situations with no recourse to action. The Bill should be brought forward before this parliamentary term ends. It appears that the legislation may be parked permanently. I extend an offer of co-operation to the Leader in the context of discussing the Bill and seeing if we can get it before the House before the parliamentary term ends.

I was remiss. I meant to very much welcome the people from the Little Flower senior citizens' group from Meath Street in the Liberties, but they have just left. That is my second slip-up today. We will move on.

I extend my best wishes to the members of Government who are taking up their positions in their new Departments today. I draw particular attention to the incoming Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Bruton, as he takes up his crucial role. The Minister pronounced on Twitter that he was looking forward to the implementation of the national broadband plan as the most crucial issue facing the country. Broadband provision is important, especially to the communities and businesses that are disadvantaged without it. I agree that the Government's strategy in this regard needs much work, but for the Minister with responsibility for climate action not to mention the latter as he takes up his new post is a shock. I hope the Minister will apply himself with the same dedication, seriousness and hard work which we saw from him as Minister for Education and Skills. Climate change is the single biggest issue facing humanity and all life on earth. Keeping our climate stable in order to sustain life is crucial. The Minister needs to understand this. In this vein, I hope he can rely on the support of the rest of the Government in gathering some momentum in respect of climate action. This is particularly important in the light of the lack of action regarding climate change in last week's budget. Outside the gates of Leinster House earlier, hundreds of citizens from various groups called for action on this matter from the Government, particularly in the context of the recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly in respect of climate change. One way in which the Government can take action in the short term is to get the Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill 2016 into the Seanad as quickly as possible and during Government time. I know that other Senators and I are eager to make Ireland a leader in the area of climate action as soon as possible. One quick and real way of doing this would be to get the Fossil Fuel Divestment Bill into the Seanad as soon as possible.