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TV3′s POLITICAL EDITOR Ursula Halligan was told by station management that she could continue to cover the same-sex marriage referendum – but that to do so, she would have to refrain from endorsing either side.
The offer was made in the context of talks between the journalist and Ballymount management as she discussed her plans to publicly endorse a Yes vote in the 22 May poll.
Halligan, one of the station’s most familiar faces and a widely-respected broadcaster, won widespread praise for her bravery yesterday – for her op-ed in The Irish Times.
The marriage referendum had encouraged her to be open about being gay, she wrote. In an interview later, she revealed she had only told her family in the last few days that she was gay.
At the end of her Irish Times article, Halligan revealed she had arranged to be taken off referendum coverage by TV3 to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest – and that her employers had been happy to oblige.
I told them my situation, they reorganised their coverage in half a day.
TV3 confirmed in a statement to this website that it had agreed with its Political Editor, ”that she be removed from coverage of the Marriage Equality Referendum” in order to comply with BAI guidelines on referendum coverage.
“Ursula wishes to publicly endorse a yes vote in the referendum which could breach the referendum guideline as it ‘may have the potential to undermine the perceived impartiality of [TV3's] coverage’,” the station said.
TV3 has the highest regard and respect for Ursula’s professionalism and impartiality. Further, TV3 respects Ursula’s personal wishes regarding this issue and her desire to publicly state her views. Ursula will continue to cover all other political issues for TV3.
A spokesperson added that “TV3 has a pool of politically literate reporters who can be assigned to the Marriage Referendum at any time”.
What are the guidelines?
The BAI Referendum Guidelines document states that “it is not appropriate for persons involved with referenda interests to present programmes during the referenda campaign period”.
Section 6, covering conflicts of interest, also states:
Broadcasters should note that that comments made off-air, for example in print publications or social media, by programme presenters in respect of the referenda, particularly presenters of news and current affairs, may have the potential to undermine the perceived impartiality of their coverage.
Earlier this week, satirist Oliver Callan was cautioned by RTÉ after he publicly backed a Yes vote at an Abbey Theatre event.
RTÉ staff, contractors and freelancers – including presenters and production staff – have also been warned not to air their views on social media, in the run up to polling day.
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Ursula Halligan , what a woman.
Isn’t it very sad that we as a people can’t let a person be who they are and obviously from Ursula Halligan’s announcement and others recently they live in fear of the rest of us finding out sometimes all their life. We won’t let them feel equal to the rest of us and we judge them severely for wanting to feel normal. Diarmaid Martin recently joined in to judge and he from the Catholic Church who is supposed to preach love and compassion, but he probably also forgets what Jesus tried to preach which was love and compassion to everyone. I wonder how Jesus would have voted this week?
Teresa Scanlon
That’s a terrible way to be thinking Teresa, people in Ireland go through life never giving a thought to others sexuality.
” We won’t let them feel equal to the rest of us and we judge them severely for wanting to feel normal ”
Speak for yourself Teresa, denigrating and falsely accusing the people of this country only reflects your own bigotry.
I honestly don’t know how you can feel at ease with yourself harbouring this kind of thinking.
Gerard if there were some people in this country who were not bigots then people who are LGBT would be able to be more open about the fact that they are different. If some people in Ireland were not bigots there would be no need for a referendum. Whilst I may not agree with everything Teresa said she is right in that some people need to be more open to the fact some people are LGBT.
Carol Kavanagh
There are very few that are not aware that LGBT people are there and are different, I look forward to the day when the people decide what what is needed to be put forward for referendum, not a corrupt establishment that has to buy friends and partners.
Gerard, I see your voting No then…
Gerard, did you ever wonder why we are having a Referendum?
Teresa
We are having a referendum because Washington, Brussels and a whole bunch of fanatics are, by hook or by crook forcing oppression on us all, LGBT is a weapon they are using from America to Africa and Europe, it has reared its ugly head in most western nations.
Are you for real Gerard??? Oppression? What about all the LGBT people who have been oppressed for years? Are you saying that LGBT people shouldn’t be classed as equal? If you are then your a bigot. We are having a referendum because LGBT people in this country are not treated as equals in the eyes of the law and by many in society.
Respect to TV3 and To Ursula Halligan.
RTE would not do this.
I dread this week.
You’ll be fine.
A lot of gay people have been dreading lots and lots of weeks in their lifetimes. We can all get rid of the dread this week and it will be a non-issue then, you can relax, Vincent Van Gogh, and enjoy your painting!
Am totally supporting yes campaign – but fed up with so much of the coverage now. I am even starting to feel sorry for No side.
I suspect that a lot of people feel the same.
Ditto.
They claim to support an institution but some of the no side belong in an institution in my opinion
Druid
Are you saying that not supporting this referendum is some sort of mental illness.
Aren’t people entitled to their vote without prejudice.
Your comment is undemocratic and seriously and ironically lacking equality.
I couldn’t feel sorry for them if I tried. They stared their campaign by lying and they continue to lie throughout.
Yea I feel sorry for the no side, it must be hard spreading total misdirection, muddying issues and trying to rationalise the unequal treatment of people. Those poor souls. It must be so difficult for them to have their future decided by a bunch of people who it has no impact on…. Oh wait
But yet Baz and Glen read and comment on the article that they are both sick of hearing about LOL
Dublinguy
I’m still waiting for you to man up and apologise for wrongly accusing me of being against homosexuals adopting. I have admitted when I got things wrong on here.
You just haven’t got the balls to admit when you are wrong, pathetic.
Baz…it will be over soon…have patience and stick to your guns. If you feel frustrated at having to hear about this every day at the moment think about how people like Ursula have felt for a whole lifetime….silently having to put up with a regime that she did not feel a full part of. She had to “tolerate” that for all the wrong reasons. And don’t feel sorry for the No campaign. Sorrow, or grace, is something explicitly missing from their campaign.
“it’s all about managing Ireland little catholic empire”
Why would you feel sorry for the no side? The majority of them are scaremongers, liars and bigots. Many of the no side would prefer that anyone who is LGBT would just disappear into the night and not show their faces because they don’t believe anyone that is LGBT is equal. But we are. I am sick of being told that because I am a lesbian I am not equal. You want to feel sorry for the no side that is your opinion but maybe spare a thought for the many LGBT people who can’t be themselves fully for fear of being shunned, losing their jobs, disowned by their families etc.
Derek
There is no catholic empire in Ireland any more, it is a terrible thing for most of us to see it being replaced with a new government partner, LGBT. I’m sure the same old crimes and cover ups of the past will continue with renewed vigour, all the state needed was a new minority partner that that could not threaten the status quo.
I really don’t get this thing about if your involved you cannot offer a view…….bit like a politician not being able to comment because he/she belongs to a political party. I want to hear about real life experiences from people who are articulate enough to talk about their feelings on the matter and who have the where-with-all to express it.
Oh, and by the way….VOTE YES!
To many liberal lefties in the media spouting out their own views, l wish there was a referendum on impartiality in the media
Let people make up their own minds, we can you know
impartiality in the media?
ha ha, that`s a laugh !
Liberal lefties… Ease up on the Fox news there
No sympathy to Ursula halligan when I recall the abrupt manner used by her to OUT Brian lenihans illness. Shameful and insensitive at a minimum.
Trying to post on this issue for a while now to no avail ,censorship at its best from the journal
It takes balls to deal with politicians now, lol.
have your say