Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My fundamental question was about the blurring of the lines between propaganda emanating from the Taoiseach's Department via the strategic communications unit, SCU, and real news. I referenced scoliosis services. Let us be honest - "RTÉ Investigates" was the key programme that provoked a reaction from the Government on waiting lists, in particular for people with scoliosis. People were horrified and appalled, but it took programmes of that kind to force the Government to react. Likewise, with reference to last night's programme on the appalling circumstances of many elderly parents of adult citizens with intellectual disabilities, it will upset people across the country that this is where society is. Will it be "RTÉ Investigates" versus the SCU? Please God, the national children's hospital will be the next good news story and we are all rooting for it. It has had a long gestation period in planning and so on. The SCU cannot become a propaganda unit. Independent media are important. We might not like some of the stories and Governments may not like what emerges on television and radio programmes from time to time in revealing unacceptable situations, but that is the intercourse of political life and accountability by the Government to the people. That is what having an independent media is all about. The use of taxpayers' money and the ramping up of the SCU from nothing to 11 staff and €5 million outstrip the extra allocations of staff for Enterprise Ireland to deal with Brexit in the early months. That is the general point I am making.

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