Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

Will the Leader provide an opportunity to debate the recent annual report of the Press Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman, which is under the able and steady hand of a former Member in this House, Professor John Horgan? I call for this debate because of a directive given by the Public Service Executive Union on 19 May, BS 042/10, signed by T. Geraghty, general secretary, which directs a boycott of Independent News and Media and Newstalk Radio. The union alleges there is an anti-Civil Service bias in these organisations. This could put jobs in jeopardy in both organisations which employ Irish people. I do not like boycotts because they are unfair. I call on the union to withdraw this boycott forthwith and have a proper debate with the media and politicians. We all have difficulties at times with the media but I would never call for a boycott. The only boycott I remember is my father boycotting The People newspaper when it published the black diaries of Sir Roger Casement.