Time is passing. There is the very important Social Welfare Bill to be discussed.

I commend Senator John Dolan for his work. Last Saturday was International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The Minister of State with responsibility for disability services, Deputy Finian McGrath, will issue a statement later today on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. I understand from the remarks made by the Senator and the Minister of State that the convention will not be ratified by Christmas because the passage of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 has an impact on its ratification, but all sides must aspire to having it signed into law. I hope that will happen before the end of the first quarter of 2017. I will be happy to invite the Taoiseach to come to the House at a later date.

Senators Paul Coghlan and Ned O'Sullivan mentioned the red deer in Killarney National Park. It is a very serious matter. Many of us have a very uneasy feeling about hunter tourists. The matter is being investigated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service which is meeting the Wild Deer Association of Ireland which has made the allegations. The culling licensing period runs from 1 September to 28 February. I am told that permission is only granted where there is evidence of danger and that a person can only obtain a licence on a case by case basis and must outline the reason culling should take place. The Senators might submit a Commencement matter to discuss the issue or we can invite the Minister responsible to come to the House to discuss it, whichever the Cathaoirleach decrees.

Senators Ned O'Sullivan and Trevor Ó Clochartaigh raised the matter of pay-by-weight waste collection services. The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Denis Naughten, has announced that it will not happen at the start of next year but in the middle of 2017. There will be no dual pricing system in that period. There will be an opportunity for us to have a debate on the matter in the new year and I will be happy to invite the Minister to come to the House to discuss it. As Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh said, it showed the importance of this House that we could have a debate at an early stage and inform the Minister of our shared experiences.

Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill referred to the North Dakota pipeline. I will be happy to have the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade raise the matter with his relevant counterparts in the United States.

Senator Frank Feighan referred to the cost of postage stamps. I will be happy to invite the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to come to the House to discuss the issue.

Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell asked if a particular gentleman whom I cannot name could be invited to come to the House. That is a matter for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges and the Cathaoirleach has given a ruling on it. I will be happy to have it debated at the committee.

Senators David Norris and Gerard P. Craughwell spoke about the funding of pensions at Independent News and Media. It is disappointing and upsetting for people who have paid into a pension scheme to be suddenly faced with a cut in payments of 70% or whatever the percentage is.

Legislation is needed.

When a fund is in profit, it is important to recognise that there is a need to protect workers. I will be happy to invite the Minister responsible to come to the House to discuss the matter.

We need to discuss the abatement issue.