Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I commend Senator Eamonn Coghlan and the other Taoiseach-nominated Senators for bringing forward this important issue on Private Members' time. I certainly intend to attend and participate in the debate. It is an issue in which the Seanad can play a role in heightening public awareness of a growing issue of concern. Very often people can get lost in technicalities. The issues involved in childhood obesity and health are stark, however.

I welcome yesterday's announcement by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, of an inquiry into "Prime Time Investigates" and the important issue which arose with the documentary programme on which many Senators have spoken. It is important the terms of reference of this investigation are sufficiently broad, so it will not just examine the transactional narrative of who decided what, who checked out what and who authorised what, but also to understand the psychology behind the appalling defamation of and failure in the duty of care to Fr. Kevin Reynolds.

I have already raised the issue as to whether there could be some kind of institutional bias against the clergy arising out of scandals and the fact an Amárach report showed 42% of people believe 20% of the clergy are abusers when the correct figure is that between 3% and 4% have been accused of abuse. When there is such a level of misinformation on an issue of such profound importance, one must ask about the media's role in it. The media plays an enormous role in shaping public understandings of issues. It is helpful this information is in the public domain when we consider what happened to Fr. Kevin Reynolds. If there were any question that any sector in our society was seen as pariahs and not entitled to the same level of due care as everyone else, it must be explored. We cannot conclude on that point but it is a fair question to ask. I hope the compliance committee of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland will be in a position to ask those questions in a fair but an intense manner to establish what went wrong in this case.