Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Regardless of the recommendations made in the forthcoming report, I have sympathy with the Minister of State and the Government in trying to address this issue which cannot be left to the Government alone to deal with because a major societal issue is involved. In trying to address it is the Minister of State cognisant that in the past week an editorial in a newspaper with a significant circulation figure totally excused the conduct of a radio presenter who had engaged in a lewd act on a flight into Ireland on the grounds that he was not able to remember the incident? It is incredible that an editorial would reflect such sympathy. How will we ever tackle the issue of alcohol abuse against such a backdrop where a newspaper actually excuses the conduct of an individual because he was not able to remember it?

See this speech in context