The Fine Gael leader in the House, Mr Maurice Manning, renewed his complaint that gardai had recently leaked to the media the presence of an individual in a Dublin Garda station. He said his concern had been heightened by the discovery that a person who phoned one newspaper had said: "We don't have much evidence but this will smoke him out."
If the police were using these tactics, then we had gone a very long way down a very dangerous road, added Mr Manning. Although this individual had not been charged with anything, he had suffered a loss of his public reputation. Mr Manning said he was disappointed that there had been no reaction whatsoever from gardai on this matter. They could not deny it because the facts were very clear. The Minister for Justice should come into the House to discuss the constitutional abuse which gardai were engaged in in this case, which did not involve a question of gangsterism, violence, subversion or drugs. It was a matter which the House should take very seriously.
Ms Kathleen O'Meara (Lab) said Mr Manning had again raised matters connected with the ISPCC investigation. An issue that caused her considerable concern was the publication of a photograph of the individual concerned and the publishing of his name, although he had not been charged with anything. "I consider this to be an issue of great media irresponsibility."
The following day, the editor of the newspaper in question had been quoted in another national daily as calling for a press council with teeth. "The same press body could, indeed, have investigated the serious crossing of the line he himself had conducted."
The leader of the House, Mr Donie Cassidy, said he fully supported the views of Mr Manning and Ms O'Meara regarding the abuse of constitutional powers and their wishes to have the Minister for Justice come into the House for a discussion.
Strenuous efforts must be made to provide sufficient assistance to parents who worked outside the home to ensure that there was no adverse impact on their children, stressed the Leas-Chathaoirleach, Mr Liam Cosgrave.
A fellow senator had painted a bleak picture of a baby being fed at 6.30 a.m. then bundled into a car and brought to a creche so that the parent could work, he said in a debate on national childcare strategy.
"There has been much talk of parents' rights to work, but such a scenario is not a great start in life for a child. We have to examine ways of getting around this problem."
They must also ensure that staff working in creches and playschools were properly trained.