Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

On 14 October, we sent a letter collectively, as leaders, to Communicorp asking that it reverse its policy of excluding journalists from The Currencyand The Irish Timesfrom programmes on its radio stations. We got a cursory acknowledgement of the letter but nothing else since. At the same time the Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment sent a letter to the company asking the executives to appear before the committee to discuss that issue. Again, the committee has heard nothing back. Yesterday, the committee agreed that we would set aside a date on 22 January where we would again ask company representatives to come to debate the issue.

I ask the Taoiseach to join me and other leaders in this House in asking the company to respond and not completely ignore the unified view of the Oireachtas in this regard. If it fails to do that, would we consider amending the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill which is approaching Committee Stage in this House? Alternatively, it could be amended in the Seanad. It is not right for a company with the public responsibility that broadcasting brings to ignore the views or the interests of this House in the matter. I would appreciate if the Taoiseach would share his views on it.

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