Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister to the House and welcome the debate as a preamble to legislation. Until Senator Ó Murchú's contribution, I thought the Minister was open to consultation. Then I heard Senator Ó Murchú's comments about a culture in which newspaper editors send reporters out to get a story at all costs and to bring back a sensational one, probably written before arrival at their destination. That is grossly unfair to the many competent reporters and journalists working in our media. It is clear from much of Senator Ó Murchú's contribution that he believes it necessary to control the media somehow. The Minister seemed to be sitting on the fence regarding a statutory or self-regulatory press council. He did not declare to us today which way he was going. Senator Ó Murchú criticised the print media for its reporting of the recently opened Kildare bypass because it noted that a wonderful section of new roadway provided by public funds would only move the gridlock further down the road to Monasterevin, which is a fact. If the Senator cannot take that he is relying on spin and has obviously fattened on it for years.

How quickly the situation changes, in May 2002 the editor of Sir Anthony's newspaper, the Irish Independent wrote that it was pay-back time.