David Norris (Independent)

I had my face slapped and the person did not go to jail for 28 days. I am asking for a debate so we can ventilate all these matters.

I congratulate the Green Party. At its conference the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley, said he is attempting to ensure Ireland withdraws from the European Defence Agency. I ask for a debate on this matter. I have always supported Ireland's increasing involvement, through treaties, in the European Union. However, I campaigned against the Lisbon treaty because I failed to get any answer on the important matter of enmeshing Ireland in the international munitions for export trade. Please give me the opportunity this time to campaign in favour of the Lisbon treaty.

I also congratulate the Green Party on its announcement that television licence spongers will no longer go to jail. It was a frightful, stupid mistake. I tabled an amendment on this matter and it was ruled out of order because it might create a charge on the Exchequer.

I support Senator White and others who called for a debate on the university situation. This is a matter which should be properly discussed here. Many people have an interest in this matter, including some representatives of the graduates of the various universities, but it also highlights the fact that the Seanad would be immensely strengthened if the franchise were extended and we had representatives of the Dublin Institute of Technology and the University of Limerick in the House.

We have two universities in the top 200 in the world. We should be very glad of that. Co-operation between universities on research projects and intellectual mergers could be a good thing. I fought against the coercive merger 30 years ago of UCD and Trinity. We have all learned since then. If they can co-operate on research projects and pool their intellectual resources, why not do so? However, we need to know more about it and I support the call for such a debate.