Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the provisions in the Bill we saw yesterday relating to whistleblowers. I use social media. It is my way of getting my message out as an Independent Deputy. I work within the criteria given to me. In respect of television appearances and the amount of time given to Government Deputies on the national broadcaster compared to Independent Deputies, it involves money generated for it. When you invest in something, it is money generated. Independents like me do not have the same amount of money to put into television advertisements that a Government would have. Something we could look at would be requiring national media to give a certain amount of time to Independents to debate different issues. This might then give people the kind of balance they see on social media. Social media is the only platform available to me as an Independent. I have no problem going on national television and debating any of the issues there but Independents are never given the opportunity to do so. That is the structure that is there at the moment. The Government has the budget to do it. We have Oireachtas TV, which gives us a platform, but we also have the national broadcaster, into which everyone with a television licence pays. The same people elect people to the position they hold. Regardless of whether a Deputy is party or non-party, he or she is still elected to the 33rd Dáil to represent the people of Ireland so we need to look at whether we can bring something to Government in order that the national broadcaster has to provide time and cannot use the same Independents all the time. It needs to spread it among all Members. This involves every Member from every party and none.

I am involved in many charity events. Again, I use social media to help raise awareness when we are putting on an event for people in need. It is a fantastic tool when you use it for the right reasons but it can become nasty if people use it for the wrong reasons. It is the one reason I never reply to anyone on social media. It is a rule I have. If you want to talk to me, pick up the phone. If you want to send a message with your contact details, I will contact you. If you want to abuse me online, you are by yourself and will be looking back at yourself because I will not reply. That is my rule. I use social media to the best of my abilities and for all the right reasons. I welcome the Press Ombudsman in regard to all he can do but, again, we can target online bullying ourselves by speaking out and telling people it will not be tolerated. At the same time, we need to tell people who are being bullied online not to reply. We call them keyboard warriors. All they want is a reply for the rush. People can see that the same people are jumping on the bandwagon to make people look bad. It does not bother me - it goes over my head - but I need to help other people to see that they have the tools to deal with it in the same way. Do not answer it. People should ask Members of the Oireachtas to raise this matter and show the pattern that is there. If there is a pattern and people are bullying people online, we can go to the likes of Facebook and the Press Ombudsman and tell them these people have bullied five or six people online so let us tackle that as public representatives and help people. As an Independent, the only format that allows me to get my message out there besides flyers is social media.

Another part of getting our message out is a mobile office that gets us into the county. In respect of the amount of time it takes me to run a mobile office, I could target each area if I wanted to and put a message out on social media but people want to meet and interact with you on the ground. That is what politicians do. I have met my share of hostile people on doorsteps. I have met people who were nice to me but I have also met people who were hostile. If, in addition to using social media, you are out there on the ground with the people, they will get a sense of who you are and what you are about. I am against anybody using social media for the wrong reasons and it needs to be regulated. I reiterate that when it comes to politics. The national broadcaster should be regulated as well so that everybody from every county regardless of party membership or none should get air time.