Updated 11.20

The Communications Minister is reluctant to say whether a change to the Broadcasting Act would have made any difference in the RTÉ "panti-gate" controversy.

Pat Rabbitte says he plans to amend Section 39 of the act so that only material which is unduly offensive is banned from being broadcast.

It comes after RTÉ paid out over €85,000 last week to six individuals following comments made on homophobia by the gay activist Rory O'Neill on the Saturday Night Show.

Minister Rabbitte says it's not for him to comment on whether RTÉ's legal team made the right decision - but admitted on Newstalk's Breakfast that the incident has prompted him to re-think our broadcasting laws:

Along with Labour TD John Lyons, Cork Deputy Jerry Buttimer spoke passionately in the Dáil yesterday on his experiences of being a gay person, including being spat on and beaten up. He gave an interview to The Pat Kenny show earlier giving further detail: