Seanad Report:The withholding of advertising was one way that strong disapproval could be registered about the publication of reports such as those carried in certain newspapers last Sunday about the fatal accident involving former TD Liam Lawlor, Feargal Quinn (Ind) suggested.
Fellow independent Joe O'Toole called for punitive measures under which newspapers which behaved in this way could be closed down for specified periods.
There was universal condemnation in the House of what one member termed "journalism of the sewer."
Maurice Hayes (Ind) said that for him it was not a very good day to be a director of Independent Newspapers in the House. Expressing sympathy with the Lawlor family, he said that the story had been factually incorrect. Even if the story had been right factually, it was wrong in its treatment in every other way. He was working with others on the establishment of a fully independent press council which would be recognised in statute.
The leader of the House, Mary O'Rourke, said newspapers had stated they could not contact the Lawlor family, yet the Taoiseach had managed to do so. "They just didn't try. They wanted the dirty story out."
The woman editor of a newspaper which had "followed the lead", had participated in RTÉ's Questions and Answers programme last Monday. "I thought she was quite complacent. I could not believe it. Quite complacent and happy with herself that she had apologised," Mrs O'Rourke said.