I join with my colleague, Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill, and his comments on the dispute that has arisen about the Tory Island ferry. A company called Turasmara has operated the ferry for more than 30 years. The company is owned by a former Fine Gael councillor, Pádraig Doherty, and I note that he had a dispute with the Fine Gael party. I hope that the current dispute is not payback time for him.

I know the Gweedore-Magheroarty area very well and it is one of the most beautiful parts of this country. I have used the excellent ferry service every year for the past 23 years. Tory Island is one of the last inhabited islands off the coast of Ireland and the ferry is the only way that the inhabitants of the island can get their much needed supplies. The ferry also provides an opportunity for locals to earn an income from tourism during the summer months. Thousands of tourists visit the island on an annual basis and they use the ferry. Turasmara has provided a new vessel for the trip and it is very safe. It may not be commonly known but the seas that surround Tory Island are among the roughest in the world.

Yes, they are vicious.

The sea can be very rough even though it might appear calm when one is onshore. I appeal to the Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy McHugh, to come in here and outline his plans to resolve the ferry dispute. If there is one thing about the people of Tory Island and island people in general, let us remember that we are all island people, it is that we have a sense of right. Therefore, if something seems to be dodgy or not right then we have a tendency, quite rightly, to stand up to it.

I have a final question for the Leader. After the publication of the much talked about national planning framework in Sligo on Friday, will there be an opportunity for Members to debate it in this House? I agree with the contribution made by Senator Boyhan this afternoon when he called for both Houses to have an opportunity to discuss it and vote on the framework.