Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I share Senator Mullins's concern about the excessively limited terms of reference of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland inquiry. Will the Leader agree to hold a debate on standards in the media, which I requested a couple of days ago, and will he endeavour to hold it early in the new year? I believe everybody supports holding such a debate.

Everybody should always be ready to admit that they were wrong. The former Tánaiste and Attorney General, former Deputy Michael McDowell, has spoken in his usual eloquent way about how he now believes he was wrong to once have believed that the Seanad should be abolished. The Taoiseach should take a leaf from his book. I was most dissatisfied by the manner in which the Taoiseach presented his intentions to the people of Ireland last Sunday night.