Michael Mullins (Fine Gael)

I echo yesterday's call by Senator David Norris for an early debate on the media, particularly on standards in the media. I make my call having read late last night an article in the Evening Herald entitled "Galling To See Politicians Order Inquiry Into RTE". It states that while the Fr. Kevin Reynolds libel itself was disastrous, RTE's response was lame and self-protective, so much so that the station must now face the ignominy of having an investigation foisted on it by politicians. The journalist states that is the worst possible scenario because politicians do not have the best interest of the public or RTE at heart. He states that, although one may call him a cynic, he believes many politicians just want to see RTE get a good kicking.

I take grave exception to that article. It is outrageous. I have no personal axe to grind with RTE. I called in this House for an inquiry to get to the truth of how a good and decent man had his reputation destroyed by RTE. I ask the Deputy Leader to confirm with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Rabbitte, that the independent inquiry he has set up will not alone deal with the injustice done to Fr. Reynolds but will also examine the case of the deceased missionary in South Africa whose family believe had his reputation destroyed also. I take grave exception to what was written by Cormac Looney last night. As politicians, we must take on this sort of journalism. It is appalling and calls into question the integrity of politicians in this House who called for an inquiry to put the record straight as to how the national broadcaster got it so wrong in the case of Fr. Kevin Reynolds and possibly others.