Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. O'Leary. Having concluded first round, I wish to pose some questions. We will then have supplementary questions from three members, by the looks of it. The core of this discussion is the area of what is legitimate political comment. I believe in what I call plus or minus 5%, which is if one believes a person or news organisation is completely balanced and fair, it means they usually agree with one's viewpoint by no more than plus or minus 5%. That is human nature and is a problem when it comes to analysing matters because one of the growing issues is that many people genuinely hold that the media organisation they take their news from or subscribe to, be it a traditional one or whatever, is providing truthful and fair information. Without in any way disrespecting us or disrespecting the commission, one of the biggest problems we face now is if a State commission set up by the Government tells people that something is correct or wrong, they will have a problem with believing that. They will say "No". A certain news organisation in the United States has peddled a load of rubbish under the banner of being fair and balanced. That was its slogan for years. This is a major problem because we, as elected Members of an Oireachtas trying to arbitrate and to set up structures like this, must be conscious that large numbers of people do not buy into that narrative at all. That is the problem the commission faces.

As so much has been covered, I want to address one particular matter. We have alluded to it without discussing it. I refer to access to voting. It is a disgrace that some polling stations cannot be accessed by everybody. Every person, whether able-bodied, in need of a wheelchair or with reduced mobility, should be able to access a polling station. It is not good enough for sheriffs or whomever to say that, historically, a particular building has been used as a polling station and that if people cannot vote there, they should make it known in order that they can be sent somewhere else to vote. If you are a member of society and you live in an area and everybody votes at a certain polling station, you should have that right. When does Mr. O'Leary intend to ensure that not one polling station in Ireland will discriminate against particular members of the community? That is my main question.