Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)

The coverage of the recent Presidential election left an awful lot to be desired. Not a single sector of the media emerged with much credit from it. I commend the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, for having the courage to raise a significant issue, as Senator Mullen said earlier. I wish his colleague, the Minister, Deputy Rabbitte, would show the same seriousness in dealing with the complaints that have been made about a particular television programme. There is no doubt that people of every political persuasion throughout the country, including those who voted for the winner of the Presidential election, are disgusted with the manner in which the programme in question, and a radio programme the following morning, were dealt with. Questions have to be asked about what was behind the whole thing. I do not think the seriousness of the matter has been acknowledged to date. One way or the other, there will be a big debate on it. I call on the Leader to add his voice to the call for a public inquiry into the two programmes and the presenter who was the common denominator in each case. All of these people are good at asking questions of us and of business people, those involved in the legal profession and teachers.