Calling for a debate on press accountability, Mr Labhras O Murchu (FF) said one newspaper had recently set out to sensationalise an appalling tragedy which had shocked the country.
He said the nation had been traumatised by the violent deaths of a mother and father and their two children. One could only imagine the pain being suffered by the remaining family members.
Yet one newspaper had set out to sensationalise this tragedy by publishing intimate and private alleged details of the personal relationships within that family.
He was aware that the newspaper in question had received a great many letters, some of which had been published, from readers wishing to strongly disassociate themselves from what it had done. "But what about the fellow journalists, why didn't they stand up and be counted?"
The leader of the House, Mr Donie Cassidy, said he could not agree more with the sentiments expressed by his colleague.