I thank the Chair for allowing me to raise this question on the Adjournment. It relates to a matter which has concerned many people. I wish to emphasise to the Minister the great need to appoint a body such as the Broadcasting Complaints Commission. Unfortunately, that body was not reappointed and the public do not have any means of expressing their views or lodging a complaint about any broadcasting matter. In the UK and in other European countries there are more effective bodies than the Broadcasting Complaints Commission, such as the Press Council. Will the Minister consider establishing such a body here as it has worked well in the UK and in other European countries?
I was prompted to raise this matter by an RTE "Today Tonight" programme on 10 March which accused, tried and judged a private citizen. The programme was in despicably bad taste. RTE apparently sent a crew to Orlando at great cost and not only that but they sought out a young lady there and interviewed her at, perhaps, a considerable fee. The programme infringed on a private family. It must have been a nightmare for the family concerned who may have looked at that programme. The programme sought to be sensational and descended to what I would describe as the level of the gutter press.
From the point of view of the public it is vital to have a watchdog such as the Broadcasting Complaints Commission or a Press Council. The media have gone overboard not just in this instance but in many other cases. I will not go into detail but there have been instances of a similar nature which have impinged on the privacy of private individuals. I appreciate that it is important that the media should have freedom of expression but it is equally important that justice and respect be afforded to the citizen. In this respect it is important that some means be devised and I recommend the appointment of a press council.
This is my first opportunity in the House to congratulate the Minister on her appointment. I know she will be a very efficient Minister and I wish her every success.