John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

——because its headline was nothing short of absolute politicking. It has no integrity as a newspaper for independent journalism. I also question so-called independent commentators who are former chairmen of political youth groups, former Ministers and former Taoisigh. It is possible for any of us who have been in political life to be truly independent commentators — I certainly find it difficult to believe it is. Perhaps that is something the regulator might look at. When we are looking for equity and fairness, those who categorise themselves as independent commentators, whose pores exude a particular point of view — individually, they are fine men — have a political preference and are not independent commentators.

I again call for a two-day debate on the €20 billion budget deficit to give each party an opportunity to outline, independently audited, how they would make the cuts and raise the tax.