Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

That is unfortunate. I do not say this very often, but the Minister is misguided in this case. The Minister's mention of the BCI code that requests that broadcasters treat the dead with respect misses the point totally. We are talking about reporting, potentially, on the death of a person or actions that took place immediately before his or her death. Are we seriously saying we will not allow correction of the record because someone has died? Are we enshrining this in legislation instead of asking the authority to come up with a scheme to deal with the issue? As Deputy McManus said, there is no definite timeframe, but it is stated in subsection (5):

In preparing a scheme the Authority shall ensure that---

(a) a right of reply shall be broadcast---

(i) within a reasonable time period subsequent to the request for a right of reply being made, and

(ii) at a time and in a manner appropriate to the broadcast to which the request refers".

I am sorry for harping on about this but I feel we are making a mistake and I want that on the record. We have much to do today with regard to the Bill and I will not call a vote, although I would like to. The Minister is making a mistake and this is regrettable.

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