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UPDATED 13.45
TV3 IS “DEMANDING” an end to the moratorium which forbids broadcast media from reporting most political coverage just prior to a general election.
The commercially-run independent station is even claiming that the broadcast blackout could be against free speech guarantees in the European Convention on Human Rights.
Currently, a 48-hour moratorium is applied to such reporting on the day prior to polling and on the day the country goes to the polls. The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland guidelines were drawn up to guarantee “fairness, objectivity and impartiality” as voters make the final decision on who they wish to elect.
In a statement today, TV3 says it has issued a submission to the BAI arguing that the proposed moratorium in not required. They say that the moratorium “does not apply to print media, online media or to foreign media which are available in Ireland”. The commercially-run independent station claims that “there is no legal requirement for the moratorium under Irish law” and that there is no provision in the Broadcast Act of 2009 for such a moratorium.
TV3 also questions the legality of the moratorium in relation to the free speech guarantees set out in the Irish Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.
Andrew Hanlon, TV3′s Director of News, said:
The moratorium underestimates the intelligence of our viewers who are more than capable of deciphering political messages, even on an elections day. It is ineffective and arbitrary since it only applies to broadcast media… This ban only exists as “custom and practice” from RTE, and while it may have appeared appropriate at some time past it has no place today in a modern democracy with a plurality of media.
A partial moratorium exists in the UK and the US on media broadcasts relating to political issues during the hours of polling on an election day.
The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland confirmed to TheJournal.ie that they have received the submission for TV3 and are giving it their “full consideration”. A spokesperson for the BAI said that the body is currently working on the final draft code for broadcasting during and in the run-up to the election. (This is the Draft Election Code, which can be viewed in full here) He said:
There could be changes applied at the end of that consultation period, or there may be none. If the Authority decides to keep the current moratorium in place, then it is a statutory code and broadcasters will have to abide by it.
He added that the final draft should emerge at a meeting of the Authority on January 24 – the code would then be issued in early February.
Regarding TV3′s assertion that print media did not have similar guidelines, the spokesperson said it had been found that political content heard on television and radio tended to have the “greatest impact” on an election campaign in its final stages.
And that was a party political article on behalf of the Fine Gael party!
@Anthony Curran: scroll down and you’ll have the SF political article featuring Mary Sue
@Liam23: Mary Sue, Brilliant
@Anthony Curran: and the journal,,
@james rowan: the journal so one sided we can comment on this fg article but we cant comment on the Mary Lou article above,,,
Why is leo getting so much press from the journal?? He is intending on making a run for president in the future?? Seems like he is settling himself up for it
@and the hit’s just keep coming: he’s about as likeable as a mouth ulcer on your tongue that keep rubbing off your teeth
@and the hit’s just keep coming: he had his chance.. drank from the poison chalice … wudnt send him for a bag of chips.. all mouth now..
@and the hit’s just keep coming: Exactly, I have said as much myself in the past. He is following the exact same strategy that got him to the position of Taoiseach, giving statements and releasing soundbites on everything and anything, just to promote his brand and keep himself in the news and recognisable.
While actually having nothing of value to say on them, much less anything of value to contribute in response to them.
@another one? what’s going on is the semi state sec: Comment says more about the mentality of SF supporters than it does about about Leo Varadkar.
What’s the story will all the leo posts? Haven’t we suffered enough of this gombeen already?
@Damien Leahy: im glad im not the only one can see he is getting a lot of free press for some reason
Leo, nobody likes you. Stay safe.
@Paul Gorry: a little bit ominous no??…
@Donna Fallon: Sure you’re living in a tent, i seem to remember Donna? Did Leo come good for you?
Great puff piece for the party that gave print media and associated online media 0% tax to pay. Keep em happy. Good job.
Leo your forehead is after getting very tall.
On Friday:
Nationalists/Independents ✅✅✅
Woke Zombies (FF, FG, G, SF, PBP, LAB, SD)✖️✖️✖️
I think Varadkar is going for the Michael D ”hairy mudguards over the ears” look.
Áras, here we come!
@Finn Barr: ‘Nationalists’ put Fine Gael back to the top of the polls, lol!
@Finn Barr: woke zombies all the way over the “nationalist” traitors!
@Finn Barr: I agree, he’s probably after a piece of Aras!
Who believes this fella, when he took over from enda Kenny, he scraped in and they had to form a government with their sworn enemies… what an absolute bluffer… never lost it never will
When Leo wakes up in the morning, Christina Finn is waiting at the end of his bed to ask if she can write another puff piece about him and / or Fine Gael.
What energy has he brought he’s boring snivelling useless like all before him
And nobody mentioned immigration.
This isn’t Journalism its propaganda
FG and FF should officially join forces and become one party. There is zero difference between them now, and they have been great bedfellows in government in destroying the country. A vote for FG is a vote for FF and vice versa.
Whilst I am not the greatest fan of Leo Varadkar, it amuses me that he gets so much grief on here for being useless. He has made more of his life and achieved beyond anything his immature detractors on here ever will. Like him or not, he puts all of you to shame and stands head and shoulders above you all.
@Sun Rise: You’re correct he gets a lot of grief for being useless. It amuses you that he gets so much said grief? Jaysus h christ STOP with that nonsense.
“What about the children Leo?” …….Trump is a bad man…..
Leo made more of his life than all the useless keyboard warriors on here
@Peter Byrne: says the useless keyboard warrior peter Byrne.
Did a bad job in government but lets vote him president. As ff and fg can do no wrong but sinn never in government getting alot bad publicity. Lets not forgot the state country and that man was part of it.
Anyone who gives a preference for ff, fg, liebour sinn Fein social democrats people before profit need accept everything they get from these traitor’s
Varadkar did a runner & left a mess behind, but cant leave the limelight & is back again telling everyone how to run things. He abandoned the stage, he shouldn’t be getting any airtime, he had his chance & his legacy will be how he abandoned those who get up for work every morning, the very ones he said he supported. Don’t want to hear or see his face again.
Sadly K O . Sinnfein are the only party big enough to challenge these shower. Do not trust impedance who they get money from to run and then when in if get in too small to challenge sad but is true. 100 years enough need give sinnfein chance then judge them
Coffeesaoich.
He’s a complete disgrace to this country and so is everyone in FG who backed Regina Doherty, normalising her another proud Thatcherite. Officially too scared of his constituents not to just run for cover and was a horrible Taoiseach
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