HYPOCRISY by certain newspapers over coverage of ex-Minister Michael Lowry's alleged private life was strongly criticised by the Leader of the House, Mr Maurice Manning.
There was something nauseating about the spectacle of newspapers condemning in their editorial columns what they called tabloid and sleaze practices while devoting column inches on "the front page of the same paper to copious coverage of the same issues. Either it's wrong and isn't proper to journalistic standards or it is not. But, please spare us the hypocrisy on the matter".
Mr Manning was responding to comments by Mr Pat Magner (Lab) who hit out at the arrival in this country of the "worst aspects of Fleet Street".
Referring to allegations about Mr Lowry, he said people in public life were fair game. But it was an absolute disgrace to involve members of their families who had no direct input into the political system.
Politicians were pretty tough with each other. "The public would not be unaware of anything we get up to, because we usually expose each other to one extent or another. But when it comes to families, some of us draw the line in the sand," added Mr Magner.
There was, he believed, an urgent need for the setting up of a press council.