David Norris (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have received notification asking me to sign a petition to the Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, to introduce American anti-defamation legislation into this country. The initiative comes from the gutter press. I put it to anyone, either in the House or in public, that if they receive such a cynical petition, which uses the situation of Panti Bliss and the RTE broadcast as a framework, not to sign it. We do not want the American defamation system here; it is simply a licence to lie. I fought against a defamation Bill in the House already. The first time around I managed to sink it. I well remember when the editors of the Irish newspapers got themselves into the House when Donie Cassidy was Leader. I was the only one who stood out against them. Everyone else took the view that they had to do what they said because people are so gutless in politics and they are terrified of the media. They will have a hell of a lot more to be terrified of if we loosen the situation even more. This is because when the Defamation Bill eventually went through there was a grotesque re-balancing of rights in favour of corporate newspapers and against the individual. This is simply a cynical attempt to use the Panti scandal and the question of free speech to give the gutter press licence to lie. I want to say here in public that this is my answer to the people who contacted me. I will not sign it and I will campaign against it.

I completely agree with what Senator O'Brien said. It is scandalous that Irish home owners who may be able to pay at least part of their mortgage should be subject to this mass sell-off by - he used the phrase that I was going to use but he did not emphasise it, but I will - vulture funds from outside this country.

I remember a long time ago at the beginning of the crisis saying that we should establish a Department of home security to ensure that Irish people are at least safe in their homes. If we have thousands of people cast adrift in order that speculative capital can make money and profiteer out of their misery, then it is a reproach. It is no excuse to say the matter is in the hands of the liquidator. It should not have got there without some provision to protect people. I do not glory in the work of NAMA or the IBRC or any of these things. As far as I am concerned, they have done sweet damn all and there is little difference between those in the current Government and the Government that they continually accuse of walking us into this mess. They have the same priorities, which is to preserve the system and let people go to hell.