ENVIRONMENTALIST AND FORMER RTÉ presenter Duncan Stewart threatened to walk out of a radio station unless he was told how much time he had.
Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast, Stewart added that he is considering running in the European elections as an independent.
“I’ve a few very good options that I’m seizing up at the moment that are outside of politics”, he said, but that he will make a decision on whether or not to run.
He added that he won’t put up posters if he does run in the election, but that “the people of Ireland are waiting for someone” like him.
Last week the former presenter was spotted at a meeting of a group of independent TDs calling themselves Independents’ Network in Dublin.
He noted that he was “stepping down” from RTÉ due to the broadcaster’s coverage of climate change.
“Everybody seems to avoid climate change, it’s not good for advertising, its not good for ratings,” Stewart said, “The media don’t seem to get it.”
“We need to protect our children’s future.”
In terms of balance, he argued that climate sceptics shouldn’t be allowed discuss the topic:
During the interview, Stewart threatened to walk out of Newstalk’s studio unless he was given ten minutes to speak.
“I’m very concerned that I get the facts about issues across to the public,” he said.
He later tweeted that it was not his “finest hour”.
Read the full exchange below, or listen here:
Duncan Stewart: How much time have I got here?
Shane Coleman (Newstalk Presenter): We’ve got plenty of time, don’t worry about that.
Stewart: Well I want plenty of time. How much time have I got? Tell me how much time I’ve got.
Coleman: Let me ask the questions and you can answer them.
Stewart: No no no. You tell me how much time I’ve got.
Coleman: We’ve got a panel…
Stewart: Listen, listen. Do you want me to talk here?
Coleman: I do.
Stewart: Well then tell me how much time I’ve got.
Coleman: Why why? [exasperated]
Stewart: Because I want to know.
Coleman: We don’t…
Stewart: I’ve a lot to say here, Shane.
Coleman: Okay, we’ve plenty of time…
Stewart: I don’t want to get bogged down here by the way.
Coleman: We are getting bogged down here…
Stewart: Listen! Listen. I can walk out of this studio this minute if you wish. Would you want me to do that?
Coleman: Why would you walk out of the studio? We’ve having a discussion.
Stewart: Because unless you tell me how much time I’ve got, I’ve a lot to say here, and do I have to go to another radio station and say it? You’ve asked me to come in here to this studio, last night, a very good researcher asked me. She said I would be able to talk about the issues in the wider context because I’m very concerned that I get the facts about issues across to the public. So please tell me how time I’ve got.
Coleman: Okay, we’ve got another seven or eight minutes, we’ve just lost a minute.
Stewart: Okay, well listen, I don’t think I want to stay here. Okay? I don’t think I want to stay here. If you tell me I’ve got ten minutes, I’ll agree with you, but if I’ve only seven minutes I’m not staying.
Coleman: Eh… will ya… let’s just talk about the issues here.
Stewart: Listen, it’s just not worth my time. I’m going to go to another station with this. There’s plenty of people who want to hear. I’ve an awful lot to say, Shane.
Coleman: Yeah, and we want to hear ya so…
Stewart: Well give me ten minutes
Coleman: Well let’s just talk instead of wasting time.
Stewart: No no. Give me ten minutes or I’m not staying in this studio. There are many, listen, anyone listening to this…
Coleman: Duncan, we’ll give you ten minutes if you start talking.
Stewart: Anyone listening to this please email me. Please email me. And show your support to duncan@earthhorizon.ie
Coleman: You’ve got ten minutes, start, you’ve got ten minutes, let’s start talking.
Stewart: Thank you.
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