Brendan Ryan (Labour)

—and the apparent ignoring of the most basic of purchasers' rights, which now seems to be endemic in the industry.

I agree with Senator Norris that we need a debate on the media. I found last Friday night's "Late Late Show" unpleasant, in that somebody was given the opportunity to say things about a Member of the other House who happened to be her estranged husband. I have no idea what it had to do with public service. I have no idea what it had to do with anything other than prurience and I have no reason to believe that is what any of us really believes public service broadcasters should be doing. Where are we going to end up? If the estranged spouses of every Member of both Houses of the Oireachtas in that position are given such opportunities, RTÉ will be busy forever. If it extends beyond that and begins to explore the little peccadilloes of every Member of this House – I am sure the Leader is above reproach, but for the rest of us who are mere mortals, the idea of the media exploring—