FINIAN McGRATH, TD,
Sir, - I write to object strongly about Drapier's recent criticism of the new Independent TDs in the 29th Dail.
He fails to understand how difficult it is for an Independent to make any real impact. Most of the media fail to cover what we have said in or outside the Dáil.
The most recent examples are:
1. RTÉ Oireachtas Report, July 11th: debate on Ansbacher. All the political parties were reported on except the Independents. At least five of us spoke on the debate.
2. The Irish Times, July 12th: major coverage of the Ansbacher debate. Once again not one Independent TD was quoted. The same goes for the Irish Independent, TV3 and all the tabloids.
3. Over the past two weeks, we have had major debates on crime, health and Nice. Again, the Independents were left out by the media.
I am not one of those people who routinely blame the media but when I see a deliberate policy of exclusion, I have to speak out. I do this in the interests of our democratic process.
The Irish people deserve a fair, balanced and objective media. At the moment all they are getting is press releases and sound bites from the major political parties.
If you complain you will suffer double censorship. If you think my criticism is over the top, ask the people who voted No to Nice in the last referendum or talk to the Northern minority about the so-called coverage of recent sectarian murders and attacks in the North. They will tell you straight about our so-called open and democratic free press. We need truth in our news. - Yours, etc.,
FINIAN McGRATH, TD, Dáil Éireann, Dublin 2.