I want to make it very clear, I make no apologies for conducting my duties as a public representative. I have a democratic right to represent the people of South Tipperary. I’m not worried about perception. I’m worried about facts. I had a legitimate right to have a meeting with the Minister for the Environment and I discussed an issue that was the protection of jobs – I’m entitled to do that
– Independent TD Michael Lowry defends his right to meet Ministers despite the Moriarty tribunal’s adverse findings against him.
I think the Government does have to be conscious of how people against whom adverse findings have been made by tribunals of inquiry, how these people interact with members of the Government
– Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton criticises Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan’s decision to meet Mr Lowry days after the report.
Has Joan Burton a Government death wish?
– Fine Gael TD Charlie Flanagan tweets his disagreement.
Through these new measures and structures and their robust operation, programme makers from the most junior to the highest level will clearly understand and accept their responsibility and role in rebuilding RTÉ’s reputation for very high quality journalism. It is only through great programming that we will rebuild whatever trust we have lost with our audiences.
– RTÉ director general Noel Curran announces staff changes and guidelines for journalists in response to the libel against Fr Kevin Reynolds.
What kind of a scholastic institution or community of learning is it when you hire a very important person who can bring investment to a university but doesn’t want to teach the main body of undergraduate students? What kind of lack of nerve does it reveal when, instead of addressing issues that are in front of your face, you decide to start comparing yourself to English-language-speaking universities all over the world and simply say the same as you would, for example as Rory McIlroy is number one or two in the world in relation to golf, where is our university in the international rankings?
– President Michael D Higgins addressing the Union of Students in Ireland.