Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Yes, indeed. No. 1 on the Order Paper concerns the media and a debate on the media to express the strong views and concerns of Members was requested at the party leaders meeting today. We have already acknowledged the presence of former Senator John Horgan, who was a Member of this House for eight years, in the Visitors Gallery and who is now playing a pivotal role in this area. The proposal of Senators Quinn, Mullen and several others reflects the major lack of balance in the media. It is incumbent on everyone that people are told the positive aspects as well as the negative. Looking at some television programmes at night-time, one would swear it was nearly the end of the world because all we see has nothing but negative connotations. Major advances and achievements are taking place, such as the 500 jobs created this month to which Senator Butler referred. Balance in the media is needed and it is the responsibility of editors and sub-editors not to direct reporters and journalists only towards negative or bad news with the message that otherwise they will not carry the stories. We have some excellent journalists. Worldwide opinion is that the journalists and reporters in Ireland are as good as in any country in the world. Editors and sub-editors want to send out only bad news.