Shane Cassells (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome all the witnesses on this really important topic. The breadth of experience of the witnesses we have here today is really appreciated by those contributing. From an Irish perspective, trust in the media, as indicated by the recent Reuters report, is extremely high and it is to be valued that we have that. As Mr. Dawson has said, the importance of the media in forging that democratic process should never be underestimated.

The targeting of journalists in conflict zones was always something that resonated personally with me because 20 years ago last month, being from Navan, we lost Simon Cumbers, who when working for the BBC was murdered in Riyadh when he was there covering the aftermath of a massacre. In his case, his killer was actually brought to justice and executed. Something which Simon's parents actually spoke against was the execution of his killer. Of course, we only have to look, in terms of the North, at the murder of Lyra McKee as well. I know Mr. Dooley has done extensive work in that whole sphere as well, and the threats by dissidents to the work of journalists in Northern Ireland.

Those attacks are not just in the conflict zones that have been mentioned, like Gaza or Ukraine. Looking at the website that maps media freedom, we see that just at the weekend, two journalists were physically attacked in Germany while covering a pro-Palestinian demonstration. One journalist was kicked in the head by demonstrators and a photographer was kicked in the face. In a western country, covering a demonstration, journalists were physically attacked as well. The threats are not just in the actual conflict zones but here in western European countries in response as well.

I will start with Professor McGonagle in respect of his detailed report and the recommendations he seeks in his report with regard to countries like Ireland and the role we have to play in bringing diplomatic and political pressure. Is that something the professor believes should be done just by individual states, or collectively by the European Union, with regard to the asks he has for the protection of journalists?