Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the delegation from RTE. I do not have a question but I wish to comment. There seems to have been at the very least a lack of professionalism on the night. It is most unfortunate that contained in the report is the admission that a significant omission was that certain questions were not posed to Michael D. Higgins, who I think would have risen to the challenge. To assert that there was an agenda or collusion with the makers of the programme is using the national broadcasting service to try to make it seem that Michael D. Higgins won the election by cheating. That is most unfair. We cannot rerun the election.

I welcome the point made by Mr. Curran that 1.1 million people did not watch this programme. While I accept there were difficulties on the night, to question the winning of the election by Michael D. Higgins is beneath the committee.