[Article] FF complaint halts radio coverage of decentralisation

Victor

Methinks this is way over the top and inappropriate. Bye-bye freedom of speech.

http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/topstories/3367111?view=Eircomnet

FF complaint halts radio coverage of decentralisation
From:ireland.com
Friday, 11th June, 2004

The country's commercial radio stations were forced yesterday to drop news coverage of SIPTU's opposition to the Government's decentralisation plans following complaints from Fianna Fáil. The independent Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) ordered Today FM, FM104 and Independent Network News (INN) to stop broadcasting the reports because they breached a State ban on election coverage on the day before polling, Mark Hennessy, Political Correspondent

However, the commercial radio stations reacted furiously to the intervention by the Fianna Fáil press director, Ms Olivia Buckley, while the Opposition accused the regulator of bowing to Fianna Fáil pressure.

Meanwhile, the BCI is also investigating the stations' coverage of a major reform plan for the Garda Síochána, although it has not yet ruled that these reports contravened the 1988 Radio and Television Act.

This requires stations to ensure that they do not broadcast any material "which might be reasonably considered to have the potential to influence the outcome of the poll" in the 24 hours before polling and during polling.

RTÉ is not bound by the 1988 Act, although it does obey a voluntary 24-hour moratorium on election coverage. However it defines this to mean coverage of candidates or of the campaign itself.

The national broadcaster, which is not regulated by the BCI, broadcast reports throughout the day about the Garda reform plan and SIPTU's plans to escalate its opposition to decentralisation.

An RTÉ executive, Mr Peter Feeney, said he had been asked by Fianna Fáil if the station was bound by the 1988 Act. "I said we weren't, but I would have regarded it as an inquiry, rather than a complaint, to be honest," he said.

Questioned last night, the BCI said it had to investigate all complaints. "We would have had to do so whether they were made by Fianna Fáil or a member of the public," said a spokesman.

Following an examination of the stations' scripts, he said, "the entire executive of the BCI" had decided that the decentralisation reports could have influenced voters' election choices today.

However, Mr Richie McMullen, head of news for INN, which supplies news bulletins and reports to the country's commercial stations, said: "SIPTU is made up of people of all political persuasions."

Fianna Fáil said the decision to veto the reports had been taken by the BCI, and not by the party.

However, Fine Gael's European director of elections, Mr Phil Hogan, said Fianna Fáil's complaints about the reporting of "straightforward current affairs stories" were "desperate and sinister".

And the leader of the Labour Party, Mr Pat Rabbitte, accused the BCI of operating a "ridiculously rigid and inflexible" interpretation of the 24-hour moratorium rule.

The National Union of Journalists has demanded an immediate explanation from the broadcasting commission.

Cork

It is not a question of fredom of speech but a question of appropriate practice before elections.

In many EU countries - openion polls are banned before lead up to an election.

Methinks this is way over the top and inappropriate. Bye-bye freedom of speech.

We don't even have a Press Council in this country.

Leaving the electorate some time to reflect is a positive.

mike65

Also here - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=166654

Mike.

uncivilservant

Originally posted by Cork
It is not a question of fredom of speech but a question of appropriate practice before elections.

I would imagine that most would consider being kept abreast of developments in current affairs to be "appropriate practice".

Sand

Cork, Im aware you never see any wrong in FF policy but its impossible in my opinion to see how this is justifiable. Were not talking about opinion polls, were talking about news - information that should be available to the public so that they can make the best decision possible aware of all the facts.

Fianna Fail have decided they dont want the public to hear about the opposition to their madcap decentralisation scheme in case it affects their votes. Well if people disagree with FFs craziness , then it should affect their votes. This is equivalent to a gagging order. Along with Roystons refusal to outline his views with the media youve got to wonder just how much contempt does Fianna Fail hold the electorate in?

If only god would see fit to provide any alternative to these twits - Ireland is doomed.

Lemming

Originally posted by Sand

If only god would see fit to provide any alternative to these twits - Ireland is doomed.

I agreed with everything you said up until the above quote Sand. The only person who can give the alternative to the FF mafioso is you. The electorate. Get off yer arse and have a say instead of whinging about it, which is what we as a nation tend to do unfortunately. Mind you, there seems to have been a very high turn-out from what people have been saying for this election so there's hope for us yet!

The people get the politicians they deserve.

If we can't give a toss about politics & our country, then how can we expect the politicians to give a toss about us?

Sand

I agreed with everything you said up until the above quote Sand. The only person who can give the alternative to the FF mafioso is you. The electorate. Get off yer arse and have a say instead of whinging about it, which is what we as a nation tend to do unfortunately. Mind you, there seems to have been a very high turn-out from what people have been saying for this election so there's hope for us yet!

Well, perhaps theres an alternative for you but not for me. Id vote for the PDs by process of elimination but theyre pretty much Fianna Fail Jnr at this stage, so why not save everyone some time and vote for FF? The rest of the "acceptable" parties, FG, Labour, Greens and so on are not going to enact any polices in my favour - why would I vote for parties that are going do me? I can see why the unemployed and so on would vote for them, but as a worker I like to keep as much of my wage as possible, thanks very much.

And Ill never ever vote for those SF terrorist fanboys, no matter if they make the trains run on time.

So you see, theres no honest, respectable Irish political party that espouses common sense economic polices and stresses the individual over the state. I get to choose between corrupt center left FF and possibly corrupt left Rainbow coalition. Oooh, choices choices. Bad Government A or Bad government B.

At least this Bad Government is somewhat influenced by the PDs.