Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I call on the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, to appear before the Seanad for a debate on her role and future within this Government. The Minister’s conduct on “Prime Time” last Thursday was, frankly, disgraceful and was conduct unbecoming of a member of the Cabinet. Ms Siún Nic Gearailt was effectively fired on air from her role at RTÉ. The Minister’s on-air handling of the issue lacked dignity and consideration of the process under which such affairs should be conducted. Thursday’s episode of “Prime Time” resembled an episode of “The Apprentice” more than a current affairs show.

This comes off the back of recent fact-checking of the comments of the Minister, Deputy Martin, on the upcoming referendum by Ms Justice Marie Baker. This is highly ironic as the Minister’s remit includes Coimisiún na Meán, the State agency for regulating broadcasters and online communication. As the Digital Services Act is now in full swing, part of the powers of this agency is to tackle misinformation and disinformation.Yet, when asked about the errors in her comments on the referendums, the Minister made no effort to correct her statement. How can anyone expect to have trust in the sincerity of a Minister when they have grossly misled the public? Perhaps the conduct of the Minister with respect to her misleading and inaccurate statements on the referendums is the very reason people are concerned about laws that allow for the formal classification of misinformation. Placing such powers in the hands of Members of the Legislature is particularly chilling and Orwellian. The media acting as a fourth estate holds democratically elected representatives to account for their statements, be they true or false, and for their conduct if it is untrue or misleading.

The public has seen far too much of a slant on the wording. It is another reason for growing public distrust of this Government and for its poll ratings. In the recent past, politicians such as Deputies Dara Calleary and Barry Cowen were removed from office for lesser offences. This is a gaping chasm between the duty and conduct required of our leaders. Then again, none of this is any surprise from a Government that has a Senator who thinks that the suggestion that the public has a right to know why the referendum wordings were chosen is mischievous. It is no wonder that a Government led by a party of law and order wants to avoid transparency and accountability at all costs when its own leader issued false statutory donation statements to the Standards in Public Office Commission and has since been referred to An Garda Síochána. Transparency cheats cheat us all.