Nessa Childers organised a conference today on Media Diversity, and one of the most notable contributions was from the Chairman of Thomas Crosbie Media, Alan Crosbie, who said that the internet had the capacity to "destroy civil society". In his speech, which was roundly a defence of the newspaper industry as a quality-control mechanism, painted the internet as lacking in responsibility, and lacking in the same standards of newspapers.

His speech in full is below the fold.... Read More

Fine Gael Senator Catherine Noone has come up with a proposal to issue social welfare payment by means of a debit card, which would only be usable in Ireland. Noone's proposals also include setting a fixed amount that can be withdrawn in a given week by using the card.
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