Seanad report: The views expressed by Irish Times columnist Kevin Myers on unmarried mothers crossed the line of incitement to hatred and should be investigated, Mr Joe O'Toole (Ind) said.
Mr Myers' judgment had been flawed so many times that thinking people would not take him seriously. But, unfortunately, his views were very often communicated to a much wider group than that comprised of those who would analyse them. The sort of fascistic rantings he had gone on with in yesterday's edition of The Irish Times certainly crossed the line of incitement to hatred. He had had a go at a vulnerable and dependent group, which he was entitled to do. But, he was also required to keep within the bounds of civilised discussion and the laws of the land.
This kind of thing had happened in societies down through the ages and it was worrying because it could grow legs very, very quickly. Using terms such as "bastards", which had a dictionary definition and a legal interpretation, was no excuse for the fact that it was also very offensive language in certain places at certain times.
"I do believe that the idea of presenting a harmless and dependent group within society and in a sense exposing them to all sorts of mad people in society and giving oxygen to fanatics and people who will take it as an opportunity to further victimise these people, is something which is utterly unacceptable to society. I do believe that it should be reported and investigated. This we do not need in our society."
Mr Myers was entitled to his views. He could vote, he could be elected and he could argue against the social supports to various people in society. "But, that's about it."
Mr O'Toole said that such criticism of Mr Myers was not part of a so-called liberal or "leftie" issue.
The leader of the House, Mrs Mary O'Rourke, said she did not think that she had ever read anything so contemptible. "But, you know what will happen you and I?" she told Mr O'Toole. "He will bide his time and then there will be a ferocious article and we'll be called whingeing this and whingeing that."
The Irish Times columnist had repeatedly referred to unmarried mothers as "mothers of bastards". She thought that was contemptible.
"He is an excellent writer when he puts his mind to it. But there is no doubt that you and I will be bedevilled and castigated in another type of article by him. But I don't think we should allow an article like that go by without commenting on it."