Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I wish to make a serious point to the Leader with regard to the debate he promised some weeks ago about the media. I made the point yesterday, with regard to the broadcasting of mass on Raidió na Gaeltachta, that the argument about funding simply does not hold up. The weekly mass is not a Broadway production — it is not something that is very expensive to broadcast — and the same applies to services of other religious denominations, which should be provided for.

To pick up on what Senators O'Toole, Harris and others have said, there is a serious need for us to consider our political culture and here, the debate on the media is highly relevant. The media is helping to shape a completely unrealistic view of the political process among the public. We have been presented with a myth over the last few days that there is a group of insiders keeping out a talented person.