NUJ welcomes Harris rejection of Media Minister's sinister media review demand
The NUJ has welcomed the acceptance by Simon Harris, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, that a review of media coverage of oil price protests across Ireland last week would not be appropriate.
Simon Harris TD vigorously disagreed with the demand by Patrick O’Donovan, Minister for Media, Communications, Culture and Sport, that the independent regulator Coimisiún na Meán should carry out an investigation into coverage by RTÉ and other media organisations of the protests.
O’Donovan, in radio interviews yesterday, made a series of allegations of bias and unbalanced coverage in favour of the anti-government protests by media organisations.
The NUJ described the demand for a state-sponsored investigation as “sinister”.
The union’s stance received widespread public and cross-party support. During a Dáil debate this afternoon Ivana Bacik, Labour leader, strongly criticised the media minister's statement, declaring "Goodbye Viktor Orbán, hello Patrick O'Donovan."
On arrival at Leinster House, Harris faced questions from the media.
He said that he and the government, including O'Donovan, were in favour of media freedom. The Fine Gael leader disagreed with the need for a formal review of media coverage and accepted that the function of media regulation is a matter for the independent regulator.
Harris said: "Of course, at the end of any difficult period, you can look back and say, at a moment a national crisis, can we get information out there? Are there learnings? But I certainly don't think there's any need for any sort of formal review. These are matters for Coimisiún na Meáin."
The Tánaiste said the media "like everybody in the country were doing their best to deal with a fast evolving, very difficult situation" during the protests, and that Ireland had a "robust" and "fair" media.
Séamus Dooley, NUJ assistant general secretary, welcomed Harris’ prompt response.
Dooley said:
"The minister's behaviour across a number of radio stations yesterday was unacceptable. He called into question the professionalism of local and national media journalists. His comments in relation to RTÉ were deeply concerning. While we welcome the statement by his party leader, we would call on Mr O'Donovan to reflect on his statement and to confirm his acceptance of the independent role of the regulator."