Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leader for organising the resumption of the debate on councillors' pay and conditions this afternoon. More importantly, I thank him for organising statements on housing which will be taken tomorrow in the presence of the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government. I look forward to contributing to that discussion which will be timely in the context of Rebuilding Ireland.

I want to spend some time acknowledging the contribution of the media.In recent weeks, we have heard how some journalists have come under enormous pressure to declare, or in some way identify, some of their sources. We, as politicians, recognise the importance of working in partnership with the media. The media works well on the whole. It relies on contact with politicians, policy makers and advocates and usually does a good job. In recent months, there has been much debate on, and investigation of, the role of the media and its reporting on the public, civic, artistic and, in particular, cultural and commercial aspects of the lives of our citizens. I wish to acknowledge the media, its work in terms of reporting on the political, commercial and civic life of our society, and how journalists carry out that work.

As I was travelling here this morning, I was thinking about an item mentioned on the "Morning Ireland" RTÉ radio programme. I ask all Members to watch tonight's episode of "Prime Time", which will feature an RTÉ Investigates report on the harrowing story of three victims of sexual abuse who should have been protected by the State. The details of the case and those involved are in the public domain and due process has been done in terms of the court case. The report will be on "Prime Time" tonight. I wish to commend the bravery and courage of those who told their story as well as the journalists involved, in particular Aoife Hegarty of RTÉ Investigates, who assisted the three women to tell their horrific story. The programme is an example of good journalism, particularly investigative journalism.

Members may or may not be aware that Justine McCarthy, a journalist for The Sunday Times, recently won the Mary Cummins award for outstanding achievements in the media at the sixth annual Women in Media conference in Ballybunion, County Kerry. She works in this House and most Members know her. I wish to acknowledge that Justine never hesitates to take on institutions of this State, and politicians, if required, in the public interest and is fearless, forensic and fair in her journalistic work. It is a great day for her, journalism and the media and I wish her well.