Government and Opposition senators voiced strong criticism of Sunday Independent columnist Mary Ellen Synon's views on the participation of disabled people in competitive sports.
Dr Maurice Hayes (Ind), who was nominated to the Seanad by the Taoiseach, said that as a director on the Independent Newspapers board, he supported calls for a debate on the media. What was written was indefensible, indecent and hurtful.
"It should not have been written, and if written, it should not have been published. I know my views are shared by my colleagues on the Independent board and in particular by the chairman . . . I had a review in the paper myself last Sunday and I really do feel besmirched by the whole thing," added Dr Hayes.
Mr Shane Ross (Ind) who edits the newspaper's finance section, said he condemned without equivocation everything to do with the article. "I very much regret that it was published and I very, very much regret that anybody could sincerely hold those views."
Mr David Norris (Ind) described himself as a journalist employed by the Independent Group. The language in the article was ill-bred and badly chosen. To described citizens of Ireland as cripples showed this journalist was semi-literate and 50 years out of date.
Mr Norris said the Sunday Independent editor seemed not to realise the offence that had been given until the people of Ireland had registered their protest in their thousands. The "pathetic excuse" that the publication had generated a debate on disability was the kind of argument that would have excused Julius Streicher and the anti-Semitic newspapers in the Third Reich.
Mr Joe O'Toole (Ind) said that professionals working to help disabled people integrate into mainstream education felt absolutely devastated by what Miss Synon had written. Consideration should be given to instituting a legal class action against the newspaper. Every disabled person who had been hurt or humiliated deserved to get damages.
Mr John Dardis (PD), deputy leader in the House, said there seemed to be a growing tendency for the media, particularly the Sunday Independent, to publish opinion rather than news. Freedom of speech was essential in a democracy, but editorial judgment was also essential.
Mr Tony Kett (FF) hoped the writer of the article would next Sunday offer a full and frank apology.
Mr Willie Farrell (FF), who lost his right hand in an accident, said the media had become an out-of-control Frankenstein.
Mr Michael Lanigan (FF) said Dr Tony O'Reilly had in the past said he did not get involved in editorial matters. He was chairman of the group which owned the newspaper and it was time he "got off the fence". He was also involved in the media in Australia where the Paralympics were being staged. Australians should be told he owned a newspaper which had denigrated everything involved with the Games.
The leader of the House, Mr Donie Cassidy, said an all-day debate on the media, including "abuse of privilege" by it, would be held on November 7th.