Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Senator Leyden pointed out that Irish people right across the globe can now listen in to matches in their home parishes through local radio. I urge colleagues to encourage the Irish people they meet abroad to utilise the Irish radio app. It is a great way to find out what is going on in one's own community. While I have the chance, I also wish to acknowledge the role that all the national broadcasters and local radio stations played in providing clear information to the public last Monday during the terrible storms.

Several Senators have touched on the numbers that attended the all-Ireland football final. There were mixed emotions, whether one was shouting for Dublin or Mayo but it was a great achievement to see Dublin win on this occasion. Even though there were smaller viewership and attendance numbers, the all-Ireland camogie finals were really entertaining this year. It was a cracking game between Meath and Cork. There was debate as to whether Meath should have won on the first day, but we will not go into that. Meath went on to win on the second occasion. The performance of Rena Buckley, in becoming the first person ever to lift both all-Ireland senior hurling and football trophies, really needs to be acknowledged. She is a sportsperson with 18 all-Ireland medals. Not even the best in Kerry have ever come anywhere near that. Even the former Deputy, Jimmy Deenihan, never came within an ass's roar of it. She is a phenomenal athlete and it was great to see the match.

Senator Mac Lochlainn raised the issue of broadcasting rights in Northern Ireland. That is a matter for the sporting organisations and how they allocate those rights, although I have no doubt that RTÉ would be quite willing to facilitate it.

Senator Higgins made reference to her cousin. My own cousin also has an all-Ireland camogie medal with Galway. The Senator is right on the issue of trade. Far greater debate could be had in both Houses on the broader issues of trade, not just in respect of the benefit for us in this country but also in respect of the developing world. Rather than overseas development aid, ODA, I think there are huge opportunities for trade such as assisting countries to build up capacity in order that they can directly import into high-value areas such as the European Union. I made my views strongly known in the sugar debate that took place here. I was a very lone voice in the Lower House at that time but I have been proven right.

I want to raise one issue about which I feel very strongly, namely, women's participation not just in sport but on State boards. There are quite a number of State boards under my control. I am very anxious to put more women on State boards. On some occasions, I have been very limited in respect of the lists that have come to me through the Public Appointments Service, PAS, system. I ask colleagues in the Upper House to actively encourage women to register with the PAS system and apply for positions on boards and as chairpersons of boards, particularly those under my own aegis but also right across Government. I especially encourage women from outside the Dublin area to do so. It is important that we have a good mix of people, not just from Dublin but from throughout the country, who can bring different perspectives to bear. In one instance, where I had two positions to appoint, three names came up to me and all three were men. I know there are very capable women out there who are willing to participate on boards. I actively encourage colleagues in this respect. We all know very good, competent, capable women who would add to many of our State boards.