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THE SOCIALISTS HAVE accused Labour of trying to “gag” the anti-water charges campaign as people begin to receive their bills.
Paul Murphy said that far from being biased in favour of his party and movement, RTÉ has given platforms to Irish Water and the government “to use as infomercials for water charges”.
Several Labour party ministers, including the Tánaiste Joan Burton, have criticised the national broadcaster in recent days claiming that it has been too focussed on the anti-water charges movement.
Yesterday, Burton told reporters that RTÉ’s “sense of excitement” about the issue “seemed to mean that their focus was almost exclusively on the people who are making a case about not paying”.
Last week, former communications minister Pat Rabbitte accused he broadcaster of acting like “recruiting sergeant” for the far left and Sinn Féin.
But RTÉ has rejected claims of bias and imbalance:
The Socialists, also known as the Anti-Austerity Alliance, have hit back today.
“The fact of the matter is that this is an orchestrated campaign to exert pressure on RTE in an attempt to gag anti-water charges campaigners as we enter this critical period of weeks when bills are dropping,” Dublin West TD Ruth Coppinger said.
She claimed the majority of people in the country are opposed to water charges and said those people should be allowed hear their representatives on the national broadcaster.
Dublin South-West TD Murphy said the government, and Labour in particular, is attempting to stop the AAA from getting its message out and said any alleged imbalances are contradicted by evidence.
The [Irish] Independent found yesterday that of 35 guests on RTE 19 were opposed to water charges and 16 were from the government. A newspaper article yesterday highlights an episode of Prime Time from February 10th that had 3 pro-water charge Labour TDs against one from the anti-side.
Murphy also claimed that Environment Minister Alan Kelly and Irish Water spokesperson Elizabeth Arnett “have been given platforms at RTE to use as infomercials for water charges”.
He said people are now sceptical of the media because of “the role which they have played over the course of this campaign and the crisis in general as cheer leaders for austerity”.
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Lol, I think the word “unsurprisingly” tells the authors opinion haha
I knew that Hugh was the author when I read the headline…
There’s no need for him to add the word “unsurprisingly”, all it does is highlight his own bias. The Journal didn’t do that when reporting on how Joan Burton felt.
Agreed, the headline highlights The Journals own bias.
We all know Hugh is FG man on the inside with the Journal, unsurprisingly.
Have to agree with you there Andrea. The addition of “unsurprisingly” to the headline dismisses the AAA’s reaction in eye-rolling fashion.
@Pontius Pilatus
Sorry but I simply don’t agree with your interpenetration of this reporter.
He has “some may say” from time to time used clever intentions to point a story in a direction where some would read it as fact rather then the writers opinion. unsurprisingly.
A Fine Gael follower taking the P out of Fianna Fail, and that proves what now…..
Pontius why didn’t Hugh use the words Anti Austerity Alliance rather than unsurprisingly the “Socialists”?.
Because you can be sure his use of the word socialist was used to compliment his other derogatory term in “unsurprisingly”.
Then as you read down the article he says “the socialists aka Anti Austerity Alliance have hit back today”, they’re called the AAA with a socialist agenda if thats not bias and cynical journalism then I don’t know what is?.
Pontius, there’s a bit of a difference between a hashtag and a word used in an actual headline. Plus, O Cuiv used the term that his heart was breaking so the hashtag is just playing on that. My point was that the author shouldn’t really editorialise when writing about one side’s opinion on a matter. The facts should just speak for themselves.
There seems to be a lot more inquiry and media coverage of the bias RTE now that they are accused of being biased in favour of the water protesters. Says a lot!
South Dublin County Council have also given tenants info to Irish Water ive just received a letter from I W. and its gone straight into the bin.
Fairplay. In SDCC myself and I offered the rents 60 quid to not pay.
The wheels have fallen off the Labour wagon (i dont mean joan) and trying to blame all and sundry for their misfortunes. They lied to get in, screwed over their electorate base and were left holding the sh*t bucket for Irish Water. As a party they have no credibility or direction.
Paul Murphy is the most irritating human I have ever laid eyes on.
Closely followed by the other 2 in the picture.
Insufferable and the empty vessel that is Coppinger by his side! The brains trust.
No logical argument no? Pity given how correct paul murphy is regarding RTE bias
Plus he never takes that little green high infants jacket off!
I don’t know why these left-wing,liberal,socialist, multi-culturalists can’t just take it lying down and drop trou like my submissive right-wing hero buddies here? Get with the programme fellas! Better dead than a red i always say.
Still waiting for the trolls to argue for rte bias in favour of paul murphy, oh wait there isn’t any!
@kevinhiggins is that all you do, moan and bitch about absolutely everything? Seems like it from from Twitter feed, get a job for godsake.
So you feel rte don’t lean in paul murphys favour?
My job is part time flexi (I am guaranteed 6 hours a week) and I work for minimum wage. Been actively searching for an apprenticeship for 6 months. Would you like the list of places I’ve applied for or would you like to discuss rte bias which is the only damn reason I’m here commenting
I would like a list of places you’ve applied.
Sisk Group
Audi South Dublin
Nissan Ireland
ESB
Irish Rail
Bus Eireann
Do you really want all the local ones I applied for? Would you not prefer to discuss the actual article no?
Please list the local ones too.
I’d like to see the local ones too.
Hahaha! get a life the two (one) of yas
Kevin, a little change of attitude might help in securing an apprenticeship.
I can’t see how you would learn anything,
It’s impossible to teach someone who thinks he knows everything already (as is evident in your daily dose of comments)
That#s his Bertis anorak…..works everytime
Smear campaign by profit before people FG and Lab in an attempt to muzzle citizens fears of tax farming.
I don’t care for either side of this argument but Hugh your bias is ridiculous. Sure you know that already and at this stage your using it to get more clicks and comments from fools like myself and every one else on this site. Damn you straight to hell Hugh!!!
Unsurprisingly hugh o connell makes his bias known in his own headline
THAT IS WHY YOU ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE COMMENT LINE LOL.
You were…
lol, now you are MIchael Sands.
Ha ha…
@hugh
No need for the “unsurprisingly” – title reads just fine without it.
What’s with the “unsurprisingly” part in the headline about journal.ie ?? If you haven’t noticed at times rte and other media outlets are scarily biased towards the government parties.. couldn’t believe when Joan came out with utter nonsense yesterday..fell of my chair laughing !
Jesus, Ross, Your arse will be in bits if you fall off the chair every time she comes out with utter nonsence;)
has nobody pointed out how manipulative those figures are? it’s for one month, and one month alone. with scandals and nonsense being highlighted almost every day, there’s bound to be more anti-IrishWater sentiments and opinions displayed across all media.
selecting the most recent month proves what was obvious – the Govt can no longer control the narrative, and they’re losing the debate – hence the need to criticise the context of that very same debate.
and I agree that the headline is rather sardonic and only highlights what we’ve all known here on TJ about the author’s affiliations, whether real or in his head.
People liked being fooled because they follow groups in everything the do, the stronger or bigger the group seems then the more they want to follow it. It is down to how things are sold to people, people in general will allow others to manipulate them into thinking and believing in certain ways and how things start of never thought of as history can always be rewritten and replaced by recent history or lies.
What is important is what a large group believes or that is how they want people to think, I think that is why the E.U. backs this government publicly because people will change their views on things due to what groups believe and not on facts. The bigger the group then the more people will believe in it, look at the Nazis and how people got carried away with them and became people they never would have become.
People soon forget how things start, they only remember the last thing and that is often a lie when there are high emotions involved or a great desire like staying in power or keeping that image. It always gets me how stupid people become because they get too close to anything instead of looking at it from a distance and that is why these people keep on with the propaganda. To keep something in focus is to prevent people from seeing the fuller picture, so they just keep on rehashing the same old speal until what people believe becomes what they feel.
And if Ireland is out of austerity it must be great but do they look at the facts no, why because they have made themselves like the government then because they want to believe them because the government tells them what they want to hear often enough. People fool themselves to get something in return and this is played on by others for their own advantage and yet people do not get this. People are sheeple?
People have forgotten all about all the scandals that this government has been involved in as that is all forgotten about, all the government wants now is to shift attention from them onto others. So there will be plenty of stories like this to fill the airspace up until the election interwoven with so called good news job stories that will be planned for years down the road but for now there are no jobs from them but in the future they promise all those great jobs. How many times has these news items made big news to be replaced months later by a column in the middle of a newspaper saying it fell though. If you control what goes out in the media you control what people think?
Where was the media’s coverage of Bias when RTE were downplaying the water protests and showing ‘how little you will have to pay’ for your water, right after a news article on protests?
Anyone who looks logically at the RTE coverage would assume that everyone in the country is protesting against water charges. It is almost as bad as the comments section of The Journal!
Funny when I watch rte I assume the whole country is happy and dandy. I’m surprised there’s not a jobs clock in the corner of the screen 24/7. Last I watched was tubs interviewing paul murphy, bias alright but not the way pat “newstalk” rabbitte would have you believe
See therein lies the problem – its not RTE that’s biased, its the people on both sides of the arguments that are.
Mass nonpayment and if still there vote no in endas referendums and force a GE,guaranteed. They have to be removed. Another 14 months of corrupt legislation will deprive the people of more rights.
Your campaign for a no vote is clear, now pedal your backwards shite somewhere else
Too focused, what a joke!.
30,000 protesters, rte need to learn how to count,little or no coverage would be more like it.
The circus clowns in RTE can do nothing without the nod from the Government.
Just ask any socialist one simple question: “Where is the money going to come from?” Stumps them every time.
Thin air is the answer on both sides of the right / left spectrum
Well, in fairness, Sinn Fein say they will impose extra taxes on anyone earning over 70,000 per year.
(Source: Padraig Mac Lochlainn TD on Prime Time in February 2015 – i don’t remember the exact date, but i remember clearly what he said).
No its on earnings over 100,000 and wealth asset tax on 1 million euro assets and over . Look at their manifesto you have no source
Sorry, Kevin, but Padraig Mac Lochlainn’s exact words were: “Anyone earning less than 70,000 per year has nothing to fear”. I remember it well. He was very clear about that figure.
Where is your reference? I don’t see a link?
Best off reading their policy documents before telling porkies.
Penalize the successful . Yup, makes TOTAL sense… . zzzz
Penalize? Its to pay a fair share so that society remains equal. Our two tier society and recovery had widened the gap between the rich and the poor. We need a viable solution to this national and world problem.
Steve where is what money going to come from?
Socialists. What does solidarity mean? Does it mean fairness? Does it mean those who work hard subsidise those who want to fleece the nasty oppressive entity called “the state”? What does it really mean to you. Pay for your water & grow up.
But’ but’ but’ we already pay for our water through tax. Then again that’s an easily forgotten fact amongst idiots who talk before they think!
@Mairtin Cathbhar. maybe some people simply can’t afford any more spare change to subsidise the latest jobs for the boys quango.
Plenty of people out there work harder than you for a lot less take home, you’re probably another party faithful who was born with a silver spoon in his gob and had everything handed to him on plate who wouldn’t know austerity if it bit you full on the balls.
Nope. My career has spanned all sorts from getting hands dirty to leading. Typical chip on shoulder response. I am sympathetic to those who simply cannot. I find offensive are the rank feckers who will not. Socialism is a great ideal but in practise means a lazy mob takes from those who give too much proportionally. Which is not solidarity. Am still waiting for lefties to explain what is fair. …
Mairtin, there was life time dolers 40 years ago, 30 years ago, 20 years ago, 10 years ago as there is today and there will be 40 years from now.
Ever since the crash its become them against us, the working man and the dole scroungers, the vast majority who are currently drawing social welfare found themselves on it from no fault of their own and would prefer not to be, why stereotype everyone claiming Social Welfare?.
Lifetime dolers barely even registered with anyone when the good times rolled now that we haven’t got it as good lets play the blame game instead by castigating other members of society instead of pointing the finger at the real cause of your woes our gutless butt kissing arrogant bullies of a government.
BTW you know Social Welfare have taken drastic cuts as well, its not as if they’re living a lavish lifestyle, but to the prejudiced of society its heaven on earth if you’re claiming Social Welfare?.
I was with you, up to you’re last line…..I do pay for my water! I also pay for various machines in my house to make my, already paid for, water usable!
Coppinger, Murphy and Higgins . Three streaks of misery. Can you get a more depressing photo opportunity than that.
Luckily they only have a small share of 1% support amongs the population in the latest poll.
You don’t like someone because they don’t look great in a photo? No wonder we have pr savvy careerists running the country
No , I don’t like them because they are whingers. In addition Paul Murphy is a bully. Coppinger is not very smart and Higgins is just another whinger.
None of them have anything constructive to offer.
I work for a living and these three offer me nothing.
Where as Enda’s Government offer you USC for the privilege of working. Good man Jimmy, Enda needs more sheeple like yourself.
I work for a living as most of us do. Any polices you don’t like? It seems you’ve moved to their tone of voice now…
Jimmy,
The socialists are good hard working TDs and they spearheaded the resistance to the Irish Water quango. They have exposed the cronyism and corruption that is rampant in the Irish political establishment. You don’t get popular in certain circles..(golden circles) by doing that.
The Mainstream media including RTE have done everything to discredit them but people are waking up to the fact that RTE are a closed shop and a Government mouth piece.
Noel – yes I do oppose their policies .
Illegally detaining women in cars – i disagree with that
Nationalising Dell – that’s not a good idea either.
Nationalising banks – not a great idea from Paul there.
Implementing capital controls to prevent money in euros from leaving a country – pretty silly idea from Paul
Jimmy Jones calling the AAA bullies how ironic?, I’ve never come across in all my lifetime an Irish government who has threatened its people so many times to try and get the populace to play ball like fascist dictators.
You will or else…..?
Joseph
I disagree , they don’t work hard for the working man at all. What have they done for me. F-all
You managed to squeeze in :
Irish Water
Quango.
Cronyism
corruption
political establishment.
golden circles
Mainstream media
Government mouth piece.
You would have done better if you had also included
Denis O Brien
Banksters
Edna
iPhone Joan
Joan the moan
Bond holders
Blueshirts
Shill
Neo liberal
Hack
FG troll
Parasite banks
I am not a supporter of this government. What are you talking about?
Just because I find the AAA to be populist whingers doesn’t mean I support Enda or Joan
Fine Jimmy you’re entitled to your opinion, but when it comes to pure arrogance and bullying the current government win hands down.
Jimmy,
your attempt at ridiculing the facts is simply ridiculous. People are waking up to what is really going on and you are simply in denial. This country needs to take a very sharp turn left to stop multinationals destroying indigenous industry and turning this country into a junk job economy where the only possibility of work is a place in the modern sweat shops…..call centers.
When is the last time you have eaten a locally grown vegetable? Fresh Salads or meat? What exactly is being sold in supermarkets?
Tell Enda it’s not about “jobs” slaves also have” jobs” its about pay and conditions .
Joseph . Throwing a whole load of cliches into a post doesn’t really help your cause. That’s why I highlighted them.
Why do AAA want to nationalise dell , the banks and introduce capital controls ? I don’t understand
Jimmy the only cliches that are being thrown are the usual “Clueless left” or “they don’t have a plan”
Look at it this way Capitalism is out of control and it is a predatory system, the distribution of wealth is limited to those who already have the real wealth. The system has failed because of the Greed in the Financial sector.
You are mistaken in thinking that the AAA wanted to “Nationalize Dell” They wanted to Nationalize the production plant, not Dell. Look at what the Government pumped into Dell and they took all the Grants, infrastructure and everything else they could take and pissed off at first chance and are doing the exact same in Poland. The problem is Capitalism is not sustainable economically or environmentally and the sooner people wake up to this fact the better.
You couldn’t meet a bunch of happier people
I always admired Joe Higgins TD. Don’t agree with his politics, but he always came across as genuine.
(as for the other two – well, I have nothing good to say about them)
Joan burton is specialist in talking bullshite
“Unsurprisingly, the Socialists don’t think RTÉ is biased in favour of them ”
That is because it is the TRUTH?
Would you like the word unsurpringsly to feature on a dozen political articles each day? Didn’t think so
The truth I meant is that RTE is not bias towards them but are for the government…
I thought Labour were socialist or are they of the smoked salmon side of socialism
There socialist during elections but that’s about it
The three stooges Larry Curly and Mo Jesus they are depressing to look at
In fairness to the AAA they get a lot of political coverage considering they don’t have a single written policy
Fianna Fail & Renua.
If the government think RTE is so biased against them. Maybe they should consider a big cut in the TV licence fee.
If RTE is so biased then it must be dictated or co-ordinated as a policy from the top and then has to be implemented at each editorial and journalistic level all the way down the organization.
Is it not then surprising that that there has not been a single whistle-blower either in RTE or who has recently left it that would corroborate this so-called obvious bias?
My view, there is no bias – but there is a natural bias in people’s own perceptions. If you are one of the many anti IW/Govt community participating in the mutual affirmation echo chamber of the Journal comments section then no amount of coverage of the protests, impartial or otherwise will be enough.
And if Paul Murphy says there are 100K protesting and RTE, TV3, IT, Indo, etc suggest it is closer to 30K then RTE is the one that is biased. None of those complaining of RTE bias ever challenge the protest numbers of the organisers or Murphy and co, never a suggestion of bias there, is there?
Similarly if you are a Govt supporter then you are more likely to be affronted by coverage of IW protests when you think and hope that the level of protest is diminishing.
I think this tendency to perceive what one wants to perceive is quite natural.
.
or in other words, yiz are all mad.
RTE are up to their eyes in reporting government propaganda. RTE are quite simply the enemies of Ireland. They have reached new heights of depravity and their treachery knows no bounds. It’s time people boycotted the TV licence on mass.
I do not particularly like RTE but they regularly get slagged off by both left and right.
Through the protests RTE has been bias, against the protesters. They have continually reported lower numbers than were actually there, shown pictures of the protests setting up claiming no one was there when they were well aware the shot that accompanied the picture was an hour before the protests started, acted as a mouthpiece for Labour and the government, and has in many cases only allowed government ministers to be interviewed in regards to the protests.
A common theme which has been expressed at the actual protests is how RTE is biased towards the government and how after we defeat the water charges we should organise against the TV license. RTE is and always has been Rabbittes personal project and he is now trying to save it by pretending the exact opposite is true in efforts to stem the grow protests against RTE and the TV license.
have your say