Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Ardagh raised the very important and topical issue of the anniversary of the Treaties of Rome. The summit in Rome this week is a very important one. The Senator is correct and I hope we will have a debate on the future of the European Union, not just within the Brexit Seanad committee, but as a House. Senator Ardagh is correct to raise the point that there is a mood change within Europe. We need to reflect upon that and the many issues she raised.The White Paper on the future of the European Union, along with the achievements of the past, offer an opportunity for us to reflect on what membership of the European Union means and what direction the Union should take. The communiqué regarding the White Paper raises the point of what future we want for ourselves, our children and the European Union. In that context, given the triggering of Article 50 on 29 March next it is important that we continue to prioritise our position following Brexit in terms of trade, the economy, the peace process, the common travel area and our future within the European Union. The summit in April will be important and I hope we will all wear the green jersey on that occasion.

The issue of insurance raised by Senator Craughwell will be discussed tonight. Both Senator Ardagh and Senator Craughwell raised free legal aid. I will be happy to invite the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to the House to discuss that.

We join Senator Conway-Walsh in offering our compliments and thanks in respect of the community and voluntary effort being undertaken in Mayo. It is a very difficult time for everybody involved and especially for the families. We continue to pray that the three missing crew of helicopter R116 will be found and brought back to their families. I join the Senator in commending Commander Brian Fitzgerald and the crew of LE Eithneon the work they are doing. I am also happy to invite the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, to the House to discuss the issue the Senator raised regarding the statutory instrument and the Coast Guard.

Senators Ruane and Dolan raised the Garda vetting for students on DIT's Access programme. I am not familiar with the situation. It might be more appropriate to raise it as a Commencement matter. The matters the two Senators raised are important because, as Senator Dolan noted, the Access programme has worked well. It does not sit well that we are introducing vetting for some people and not for others. The Minister of State, Deputy Catherine Byrne, was in the House earlier to discuss Garda vetting. All of us wish to have proper vetting, protection of data and not to have people labelled or have a stigma attached to them. We also acknowledge the importance of, and need for, Garda vetting but there must be flexibility in how it operates. I cannot answer the Senators on the issue they raise but they should pursue it. They will have the support of the House on the matter. I can invite the Minister of State, Deputy Dara Murphy, to the House to discuss data protection in general.

Senator Humphreys raised the sale of RTE land valued at approximately €75 million. I agree with the Senator that the sale of State land should be carried out, because it is an asset. However, where the proceeds go is a matter for discussion because it is a matter of public policy. I understand from radio commentary and from the remarks of the director general who appeared before the Oireachtas committee recently that there is a need to return RTE to financial viability. I also believe that we must have a public service broadcaster.