David Norris (Independent)

The Press Council is a rather weak body. It is not independent and is financed by those whom it is supposed to police. Senator Maurice Hayes ought not think people will be fooled by that. I certainly am not, even though its head is the former Provost of Trinity College. Every time there is a problem in another profession this is a group that calls for independence. Independence suits for everybody else, but not for the newspapers which finance the council. I am not gulled by that rubbish.

I agree with Senator Jim Walsh's point about the impact of the British media which, by and large, is a disgrace. It is worrying because market forces operate and our own newspapers' standards are being driven down by their low standards. For that reason, it is highly regrettable that over the past two mornings the news programme on Radio Éireann between 7 o'clock and 9 o'clock has led with meretricious stories from the tabloids, which are British not even Irish. Even The Sun has been given prominence in the past couple of days by RTE.

I greatly regret I was not here when the Minister made the speech in Irish to which he referred because I would have enjoyed listening to his pronunciation.