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SEANAD REPORT:CRITICISING THE “Government’s response to the satirical portraits of the Taoiseach”, Frances Fitzgerald, Fine Gael leader in the House, said it was over the top for gardaí to go to the studio of a radio show seeking e-mails from the producer. Freedom of the press was critical at a time such as this.

“Whatever one feels about the merits or demerits of the portraits, we must be careful. What will happen next? When people telephone or e-mail Joe Duffy on Liveline, will somebody be sent in to see where those e-mails originated if somebody is critical of the Government? We must be very careful about such government interference, regardless of the merits of the issue under discussion.”