Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Nobody has been in direct contact with me about the appointment of Members of this House to that commission. I made an inquiry regarding its composition.

Senator Colm Burke raised the very important issue of housing and the demand for it giving the example of Cork. We can debate that tomorrow with the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, Deputy Coveney. Senator Boyhan raised the issue of pay-related social insurance, PRSI. It is important to have that debate whether about the pension deficit that many have or the contribution people make to their pensions in general. The Minister for Social Protection will be here to debate the Social Welfare Bill 2016 and I am sure we can debate that issue then.

I neglected to mention the issue about the libraries, which Senator Ó Clochartaigh raised. We need to have a discussion on that. Senator Warfield has been very active around this issue. The matter has been discussed here before.

Senator Ó Donnghaile raised the very important issue of the transmission of sporting events or other activities on television. I hope that we could have an all-Ireland approach to the transmission of sporting events because it is not good enough that in one part of the island people can watch Ireland play the All Blacks and in another they cannot, or in one part people must pay extra to watch something which they can see free in another part. We are a small island nation, we are united in lots of ways by our sport and our support for our sporting heroes. We should all, no matter who we are, work to overcome that obstacle. I would be happy for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to come to the House. I also raised the matter Senator Wilson discussed.

Senator Mullen raised the important issue of vetting and I would be happy to have the Minister come to the House to discuss that.