David Norris (Independent)

I support my various colleagues from different sides of the House who praised RTE. We should recognise how lucky we are to have such an excellent and independent public service broadcasting service, as many other countries do not. Would to God that the United States had an independent broadcasting service like RTE to examine current matters under discussion there.

It is highly unusual, particularly for an intellectually combative Minister such as Deputy McDowell, to throw down a gauntlet so publicly but, when it is taken up, refuse to meet the challenge.