I too welcome the Lithuanian ambassador and commend his country on its stand in allowing Taiwan to establish an embassy. Many of us support Lithuania in its dealings with China. It has set an example for other small countries. As we say around here, "keep her lit".

Last week, I highlighted the Sinn Féin legislation on so-called safe access zones and how it would ludicrously criminalise somebody for expressing comments in private conversation that are critical of abortion simply if they happen to be made within 100 m of where abortions are happening, for example during a conversation in a coffee shop. To promote this draconian, fascistic suppression of free speech, Sinn Féin advanced claims about people in Limerick who had engaged in quiet respectful witness on the subject of abortion. We now know these claims to be untrue. Since then we have learned of a breach of journalistic ethics in the way the Irish Independent interviewed and reported on a conversation with one of the women involved in quiet prayer near that Limerick hospital. I compliment Gript media on bringing the mistreatment of Ms Antoinette Fitzgibbon to light. The Irish Independent journalist in her report left out the clarity with which Ms Fitzgibbon stated she had no prior knowledge of the days and times when abortions took place in the Limerick hospital, an issue central to the claim made by the Together for Safety group with which the journalist was apparently in contact. The journalist invented remarks attributed to Ms Fitzgibbon suggestive of the idea that the pro-life group had knowledge and intent to time their witness along with abortions.

I do not mean to interrupt the Senator in mid flow. He is making statements of fact. This House is about debate but there are mechanisms in which that can be adjudged by the journalistic council and other bodies. I want the Senator to be careful on those issues.

I will be extremely careful. The claims made by the Together for Safety group were suggestive of the fact that Ms Fitzgibbon and her group had knowledge and intent in relation to when abortions would be taking place in Limerick. That was not true and the Irish Independent has since corrected the article online. It seems to me that the Together for Safety group, the Irish Independent and the journalist Ellen Coyne all owe Ms Fitzgibbon and her group an apology for the allegation that was made and the way it was reported.

This was despite the journalist getting the interview on the basis of her statement that she wanted to give a fair hearing to the pro-life group. If the shoe was on the other foot and this was a journalist with pro-life sympathies misrepresenting a situation such as this, he or she would be back making coffee and photocopying for a considerable period of time before being allowed to return to the newsroom. It is important that-----

The Senator is aware of our new Standing Orders on referring to events outside the House. While it is quite proper and right to do that, he must be mindful of the Standing Orders.

It is also our job as legislators to highlight unfairness, untruth and manipulation, whether in politics, by politicians or by the media. This is our forum to call for fairness for all sides. I have done so and I ask others to reflect on what I have said.

I ask the Senator to please be mindful of all of our Standing Orders. We have them for a reason - for balanced debate in the House and people's right to their good name.

The words we just heard were, "I compliment Gript media". Need I say any more?

You should say a lot more. You should start with an apology for the untruths you passed on in the House.

There we are.

Wherever the truth comes from, let us welcome it.

I will let the Cathaoirleach deal with it.

Senators.

I will not rise to the bait of that nonsense. What I will say is-----

Tell the truth.

I always tell the truth.

Now.

Seriously.

Please stop interrupting. There is a way of-----

I am defending myself since the Cathaoirleach will not.

He is defending himself. He is defending the Gript media group that deals with spite, hatred and lies-----

What about Sinn Féin?

-----and all of us have been-----

What about Sinn Féin killing people and apologising for murder or never apologising for murder?

-----victims of that poisonous group but here we are. He will not allow me to speak. There we are.

All Senators got the letter on Standing Order 39.

Yes.

If everybody told the truth, there would not be a problem.

Is that right?

We all know that.

Senator Gavan should withdraw those comments.

No, I will not be withdrawing them.

The Senator can call on him to withdraw them if she wishes.

Absolutely.

That is under Standing Order 39.

She can do so every day if she likes.

Sinn Féin never apologises. That is the point.

On the Order of Business, I ask Senator Gavan to continue uninterrupted.

I thank the Cathaoirleach very much and he might give me a few extra seconds.

I will.