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THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY of Ireland has upheld, in part, a complaint made against Newstalk’s Breakfast show.
The complaint claimed the presenters of the show “attacked” the Taoiseach in a discussion about his decision not to take part in a public debate on the Seanad referendum. It was argued that this segment of the show was not adequately fair, objective and impartial in current affairs.
At one part in the show, Enda Kenny was compared to the Chairman of the Communist Party, Mao Zedong.
The complainant argued that no Taoiseach ever takes part in such debates outside of general election time, but in its response, Newstalk pointed out that former Taoiseach John Bruton debated in the 1996 divorce referendum.
The broadcaster also stated that the Taoiseach had refused opportunities from other broadcast media, including Newstalk, to be interviewed one-on-one in relation to the referendum.
Newstalk 106-108fm does not believe their commentary on the Taoiseach were “attacks” as suggested by the complainant. The presenters were making clear points of information on a matter of public importance. These points were also put to Fine Gael TDs, Charlie Flanagan and Simon Harris, over the course of many programmes.
In its decision, the compliance committee noted that the segment in the breakfast show and the discussion between presenters on news stories is a regular feature. It also accepted that Kenny’s deicision not to take part in a debate was a “legitimate focus of discussion and debate” at the time.
However it found that the failure to include other perspectives on this topic meant the programme discussion failed to meet BAI requirements for fairness, objectivity and impartiality in news and current affairs.
Further elements of the complaint relating to accuracy, tone and an infringement of guidelines on election and referenda coverage were rejected.
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Its not like he didn’t deserve the ‘attack’. He deserved a lot worse than a few words directed towards him by newstalk.
Sounds like censorship to me.
and it happens because the elite know the people will just accept it and keep paying the tv licence like a bunch of sheep :(
He’s afraid to debate so one of his lickspittles runs to the BAI with a complaint. The BAI is funded by the taxpayer so in this case we’ve been granted the privilege of actually paying for our Taoiseach’s cowardice.
It reminds me of the Gestapo, protecting their Fuhrer and maybe they should fit him with a Halo or Tiara?
Who appoints the members of the BAI ??
Think it was Eamonn Ryan that appointed bob collins , and joint oireachtas committee the rest
This was not a typical debate. This was a debate on the abolition of the Seanad. Imagine any other leader in the EU not taking part in such a serious debate. It would be unheard of.
We all know Kenny’s track record on avoiding debate, or indeed even avoiding questioning on a most basic level.
But again, it’s only been done the once (it appears) in the history of the state.
Why are we fussing now?
We do live in a corrupt totalitarian police state, hardly surprising that this nonsense quango finds in favour of our dear leader.
Perhaps we need a return of the pirate radio stations that can’t be censored. What will the “thought police” do then?
Not much sympathy for poor little Enda around here. What donkey thought it would be a good idea to lodge a complaint? The event is over, done and dusted now many weeks after we all get a reminder that our leader got no balls. Good move FG.
“Attack on the Taoisheach”? If a few wry barbs on a radio show constitute an attack I’d hate to see what they would call my own plans, if I should ever meet The Dear Leader by chance.
With his ring of steel lackeys protecting him ye wouldn’t get near the oaf
He was totally scared of Ursula Halligan and fell backwards over a flowerpot to avoid her questioning him. Then he accused her of pushing him. I think that was the day Ursula lost her nerve – she seldom appears now.
Ah poor little enda
We had a name for people like Enda in school. Squealers!
What a load of claptrap. We either have a free press or we dont. If newstalk want to attack a public figure they shopuld have every right to do so.
I have as much respect for enda now than if he took part in 100 debates.
Poor old Enda did someone say something nasty about him? Here’s a hint Enda attend the debates and represent your own views rather then running away, You might earn some respect that way.
the man does not take part in any debates
This country needs a media that is much more willing to attack our political overlords. At the moment all they have to do is keep quite for a few days until it’s all forgotten about.
Leave the little man alone you big bully’s pick on some body your own size
From all the comments so far it seems like contributors either don’t actually read the article or don’t understand it.
The important thing here is that the BCI has a duty to ensure that we don’t have a biased media and during a referendum / election campaign they need to stay impartial or a least balanced.
From my point of view I felt he should have debated the issue, but I for one wouldn’t blame him for not taking up Newstalk on an interview; when you have the calibre of Chris O’Donoghue & George Hook spearheading the rush hour shows. My dog would conduct a better informed interview.
Perhaps a free media should be allowed to be biased. We need a media ready to tear into those who govern us.
Free media and fair nearly everything is biased towards the government.
“The important thing here is that the BCI has a duty to ensure that we don’t have a biased media and during a referendum / election campaign they need to stay impartial or a least balanced”.
So does anyone remember the Children’s Referendum 2011?
It was found by the Supreme Courts that the Government acted improperly while campaigning for a Yes vote, yet that referendum was allowed to stand.
And wasn’t there an issue a couple of years ago when Enda nearly fell over a flowerpot while trying to dodge journalists?
Politics is the study of people and Enda is no ‘people person’, and only prefers to advocate fairness and balance when it suits him.
Anyways, to have an unbiased media is next to impossible and the only way Newstalk could have balanced out their piece would have been to have said ‘For all his problems, Chairman Mao wasn’t such a bad chappie after all’!
Enda didn’t fall – he was pushed. Ursula Halligan pushed him.
Did he fall or was he pushed? It was just over a year and a half ago and here is Gene Kerrigan’s take on it. Some of it is hilarious and some, not so funny but, obviously, nothing has changed concerning Enda’s inability to engage with people. Ursula pushed him, indeed!
Surely if a person in a job doesn’t do the job one could complain about them. Debating is a major part of a politicians job. So Enda is not doing his job fully because he isn’t able.
Enda controlling the media shock horror NOT.
Enny Kenny is a fantastic man who deserves all the insults that he gets .lol
ffs Kenny is nothing like Mao Zedong, he’s more like Moe from the 3 stooges.
Stop picking on Moe, he’s done for for the people of this country than Enda has !!
I hear it was Phil Hogan that complained on Endas behalf
Which snivelling lackey made the complaint to the BAI?
Please don’t make complaints about Ogochukwu ,,thank you ..lol
Justice was done this was an outrageous attack on a great man
have your say