Niall Blaney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I concur with the sentiments expressed by Senator Ó Donnghaile regarding the protocol.

I rise today to deal with the tragedy, of which we are all aware, that took place in Creeslough in Donegal last October where many lives were lost. I have been contacted by numerous people over the past 24 hours about a documentary that is due to go out tonight on TG4. It is causing an awful lot of upset. People took part in this documentary under the belief that the documentary was to take place further down the line. As we know, investigations are ongoing regarding the tragedy. It is just way too soon for something like this to be aired.

People who have contacted TG4 about this have expressed their personal views that while people are used to dealing with situations such as during the Troubles, Creeslough is not like the Troubles. It is nothing like it and it is too soon. I ask the House to throw its support behind me today in asking TG4 to withdraw the programme tonight. TG4 is about to do untold damage. It is already doing untold damage to the families concerned. The families were not consulted. It is no way to treat the families involved. It is disrespectful. The consequences of their efforts tonight will undo a lot of processing of hurt those families have done over the past three months.

I ask the Acting Leader to use whatever powers she has within Government circles with phone calls this evening to ask the powers that be within the Government, whether it is the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste or the Minister with responsibility, to talk to the people in TG4 and ask them to have a little bit of common sense and regard for the people involved in Donegal, and to have this programme withdrawn.