Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A calm debate is required and I am prepared to offer Senator Craughwell a debate with the Minister of State at 3 p.m. on Thursday, when we have concluded our business on that day. The Minister of State will be available to come to the House to deal with this matter. If that is not suitable to the Senator, I am prepared to sit down with the Senator afterwards to work out a day that is suitable to him, if Thursday does not suit. We can have a debate on the Defence Forces issue, which Senator Wilson spoke about as well.

Senator Gavan raised the important issue of community employment scheme supervisors. It is a very contentious issue that has been ongoing for over a decade and is the subject of a Labour Court recommendation. It is important to point out again that the employees are those of private organisations or companies, albeit in the community and voluntary sector that receives State fund. Furthermore, the Minister for Finance has a number of occasions answered parliamentary questions in the Lower House on the matter and on the cost of between €188 million to €347 million. There no agreement on this payment. I will be happy for the Minister come to the House again to debate the matter. There might be a more expeditious approach for Senator Gavan. I appreciate where the Senator is coming from. Community employment schemes and supervisors play a huge role in our community and voluntary sector and all our communities benefit from their input, involvement and engagement. I will be happy to have a debate on the retirement age as well.Senator Higgins referred to a number of issues. The motion regarding the horse and greyhound racing fund is always taken without debate, no matter what Government is in situ. It is debated at the committee. However, I take the Senator's point and we will have a debate on the wider issues.

We have had the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, in the House previously to debate the issue of homelessness and he will come again in the coming weeks.

Senator Higgins also spoke about the report on the conference held in Nairobi. I will be happy to have a debate on it.

I am not sure what Senator Norris' request is. The article in the newspaper regarding a minister in the Presbyterian Church is a source of disappointment. I have read the article and think I heard a gentleman address it on a radio station.