Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I also wish to bring to the attention of the Leader my disquiet, and that of many others, at an article that appeared last week in the Irish Independent written by a journalist who decided that he would use the criteria of the first quarter to highlight what he believed was the absence of Members of this House during the sitting periods. The facts of the article are not in dispute. However, two women Members of this House were highlighted and photographed. The journalist knew that one of them, in particular, was severely ill during that period but he still went ahead with his heartless article. The other female Member, Senator Imelda Henry, who is a very dear friend of mine and a good colleague to everyone here, had very traumatic personal experiences during that same period, which meant that she was unable to attend this House as often as she would have liked. These are just two examples.

In light of all the attacks that the media have made on the current Government and the previous Government about any attempt to stifle, muzzle or restrict them in anything they say, are they not firing shots themselves through such an article? The article was heartless in the extreme and it was added to by an equally heartless editorial on the same day in the Irish Independent, which effectively said, "Oh yes, we are aware that there were legitimate reasons for some Members of the House not being able to attend but really they should get out of their sick beds and come in and save the Senate". That was essentially the message. Does that journalist have any humanity or compassion in him when he goes to bed at night? Politicians are citizens of this Republic and have rights the same as every citizen in this Republic. He should pause and reflect on the emotional damage he does to people. They are real people; they are not just cyphers in this House. Will the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources during his next appearance in the House outline the Government's proposals to curb this type of nasty, insidious journalism?