Rónán Mullen (Independent)

Incidents like this one contribute to a lack of trust in the important institution that is our media. There is a crisis in many of our institutions. We should reflect on the need not to knock our institutions but to build them up through constructive criticism. In light of this latest event, I would welcome that debate on media standards in this House. It is useful to note also a very welcome initiative from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, which has launched a public consultation on a draft code of fairness, objectivity and impartiality in news and current affairs in the broadcast media. Many of us spoke about the Fr. Kevin Reynolds case several months ago. The deadline for submitting responses to that is 14 March 2012. I hope to make a submission. Perhaps the Houses, or committees of the Houses, should consider making submissions. Given the concerns about media standards often expressed by Members on different sides of this House, I believe submissions should come from the world of politics to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland on this draft code.

Speaking of inflammatory comments, I briefly refer to another recommendation made recently. It was that all senior official appointments to State bodies that are likely to have to deal with the Catholic Church should be screened to ensure that they will not show inappropriate deference to the Catholic Church. Those who feel they are Catholic first and Irish second should seek promotion in other organs of the State. This recommendation, bizarrely, is on the clár of a forthcoming Labour Party conference, having been put down by the Clontarf branch in Dublin North Central.