Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Article 40.6.1° of the Constitution refers to the media as the "organs of public opinion". RTÉ, as the national broadcaster, enjoys a privileged position among these organs of public opinion, and not least because it receives almost €200 million annually from the licence fee payer who is compelled by law to pay. The licence fee payers and members of the public listen to the news and headlines as framed by those working in the top echelons of RTÉ.All year long, the public has watched and listened as RTÉ put Covid centre stage. All year long, the nation has been suffering and making sacrifices to comply with harsh Covid-related restrictions. Often, the news coverage was far from dispassionate in tone, which is how it ought to be. Oftentimes the coverage bordered on moralistic or sensational, lecturing and scorning those who strayed from strict compliance to social distancing rules.

It is impossible to avoid comparison between the RTÉ retirement party we have seen photographs of and the so-called golfgate. That event generated a media frenzy culminating in high-profile political resignations. Top-paid journalists in RTÉ demanded accountability for those in positions of power or those in the public sphere. They subject such people to persistent scrutiny. They point the camera lens and microphone at them, as they should. At the same time, however, those who demand accountability from others should equally be held to account. We cannot have one rule for the majority and another for those with such a platform. Is a simple apology acceptable? It is for others to decide what is and is not acceptable. There are important questions to be answered by those involved in this retirement party about who organised it and how it came about. I welcome the Garda inquiry into the matter to try to ascertain if Covid-19 regulations have been breached. I also support the matter being raised with RTÉ management by the joint committee on communications at the earliest possible opportunity.

I take this opportunity to mention this because there are so many people around the world, in Cavan and Tipperary as well as the diaspora abroad, whose hearts were lifted this weekend with both wins. I look forward to Cavan beating Dublin in the semi-final.