Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I think it is a disgrace. I see enough journalists around this House every day, but I do not see them in here. I do not see them commenting about what we do on Commencement Matters. I am more interested in people taking the time to come in here and listen. They do not even have to come into this Chamber. They have the privilege, as many of us have, of looking at proceedings on monitors in their offices. I recognise the media have an enormous job and make an enormous contribution, and we need to work together. As we start another year, I ask them to get up here, take the time to get on with the real job of journalism, which is not walking the back corridors of Leinster House but being in here listening to constructive and positive debate in which we partake.

I want to send that important message out, particularly to The Irish Timesjournalists who are spending a lot of time talking about their tracker poll on the referendum. They are spending a lot of time sending emails and looking for responses. Let them get up here and deal with the real work that is exercising the people of this country on a daily basis, namely, housing, employment - to a lesser extent - and education. There are bigger issues that we need to look at. I appeal to journalists, particularly political journalists, to get into these Houses and do the real job of journalism and report about work.