Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

I wish to support an issue raised earlier on the Order of Business by Senator O'Toole. I call on the Leader to communicate with the committee that has responsibility for and deals with the media. Over the past six weeks, we have seen incredible journalism, but at the wrong end of the spectrum. What we saw at the weekend was reckless and opportunistic journalism. There were no winners in the case with which we are all now very familiar. However, at the weekend, the media created another victim — a girl who has no redress for what has been done to her.

I also support the call by Senator Terry for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to attend the House to debate the issue of under age drinking, including the role played by nightclub owners in running promotions and reducing cover charges to enable under age drinkers to get into nightclubs. We talk about the abuse of minors but this is a blatant abuse of our young people.