Irish Examiner view: Misuse of medium is the message in Zappone controversy

A major piece of legislation would be required to deliver the contents of ministers’ phones into an appropriate archive

Katherine Zappone: Former minister had text exchange with Leo Varadkar. File picture: Niall Carson

It may come as a surprise to some that an old-school channel of communication such as a text message, once known back in those pre-social network days as an SMS, can cause such a brouhaha in our political circles. But you would be wrong.

Readers with longer memories will recall when no self-respecting member of the body politic would be found without a personal pager, the must-have accessory of the time, usually clipped to their belt.