Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael)

I am asking for a debate on the role of the media and the way in which they cover politics. While much of Senator Boyle's plight was because of Facebook and Twitter, what happened last night on television was a very poor day for journalism. Whatever else about us as politicians, we work hard and represent the people. While we might have a different viewpoint regarding policies and personalities, but we leave that behind us when we go outside the doors of these Houses and we work for the people collectively. What happened yesterday on television was poor. I say that as somebody who is very critical of Government policy. I suggest to Senator Ó Murchú that the Government's policy has failed with 340,000 people unemployed, our banks almost bankrupt and the country almost bankrupt. That is the fundamental problem. We need a debate on how we can get out of the situation we are in, why Government has created unemployment and why the country is almost bankrupt. Part of the blame lies with the policies pursued by Fianna Fáil and the Green Party. As Senator Norris said, it is important for us to stand collectively together to defend ourselves.