Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chairman for the opportunity to contribute on this debate. I commend and thank my colleague, Deputy Catherine Murphy, for highlighting this issue. She has displayed great courage, determination and commitment. Once again, this shows the need for independent voices in the Dáil and Irish society in general, people who are not in anyone's pocket and will stand up for the rights of the Irish people, particularly those in weaker sections of society who are voiceless and do not have the power or clout of the wealthy, powerful and elite. Those of us who believe in public service for the right reasons must always be vigilant and stand up for our people's rights.

Trust and respect are the key issues in this debate. Where I come from, one never stands up to demand trust and respect. One earns them. This is a major problem in politics. As we debate the motion, see the play-acting and remember the original refusal to answer questions, I think of the 102 year old woman on the trolley, the 14 year old carers or the cut to the respite care grant that the Government claimed it could not help making when €4 million will be spent on this commission of inquiry. Three weeks ago in the House, I asked the Ministers for Health and Education and Skills to provide a fund of €1,000 to complete an educational service in Trinity College Dublin for adults with Down's syndrome. They turned me down, yet we can spend this €4 million and not even bat an eyelid.

That is another issue we should address. It is something the Ministers should address. I feel angry about the original proposals because questions that were put were never answered. It is very important that we say this in the debate.

I am concerned about some of the other issues we came across in recent weeks, such as freedom of the press, democracy, accountability and transparency in this country. We cannot allow the influence of one individual to be a major threat to free speech and democratic principles. We must stand by Article 15 of the Constitution. We have seen other movers and shakers moving in to buy TV stations. People who work in the media are looking over their shoulders. People are asking whether journalists are afraid. In recent years, we had the sad case of the disgraceful treatment of Sam Smyth, who is one of our top journalists. The Government should act by saying that no one person can have a major influence over the Irish media. Journalists have to be free within the law. I emphasise the word "within".

Like some of my colleagues, I recently received a letter from a couple who are being pushed and messed around in this regard. I would like to read a section of the letter:

We are a couple from Lucan, that got into trouble with our mortgage in late 2010 with IRISH NATIONWIDE BUILDING SOCIETY. We went to INBS four times during 2010 [and] 2011 and requested that they restructure the loan and they told us the Government would be bringing in legislation to help all stressed mortgage holders and people would be looked after and there was absolutely nothing to worry about. The Government's solution was IBRC, and we embraced the process and gave them all our financial data thinking they would at the Government behest minimumly restructure our mortgage. The IBRC sent us a 20 page letter demanding that we sell our family home within six months or they would sell it over our heads. A Mr. Weller from IBRC told us at his office in 6 Grand Parade D2, that they had the courts and judges on their side and there was nothing we could do.

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