RTÉ has no intention of pulling out of the Eurovision Song Contest, Director General Kevin Bakhurst has confirmed, reports RTE.
Speaking to the media outside Leinster House after a meeting with incoming Oireachtas Media Committee chair Alan Kelly, Mr Bakhurst responded to questions regarding Israel’s involvement in this year’s contest in Basel, Switzerland.
“It’s very complicated,” he said, noting that although RTÉ has requested a broader conversation with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), it is not contemplating withdrawal. I don’t want to undermine the Israeli public service broadcaster,” he continued, pointing out that broadcaster Kan is currently facing intense pressure from Israel’s government, reports RTE.
Alan Kelly expressed his view that Israel should not be permitted to take part in this year’s Eurovision, but acknowledged that Ireland’s withdrawal would be a challenge.
He said: “I think it’s very difficult to withdraw as well, to be fair. I believe that all cultural events internationally, indeed all sports events internationally, we need to treat Israel in the way in which they deserve to be treated. They can’t be accepted as participating and being part of the norm, because the way in which they are behaving, obviously as far as I’m concerned, is absolutely disgraceful. There was one rule in relation to how they (the EBU) treated Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, and I think Israel should be treated the same in relation to the Eurovision,” reports RTE.
“I think the decision of Mr Bakhurst in relation to this was the right one, if maybe it’s obviously all coming a little bit late, given the proximity to the event,” reports RTE.
Mr Bakhurst issued a statement on Wednesday expressing his horror at the continued conflict in the Middle East, and confirmed RTÉ had asked the EBU to engage in talks over Israel’s participation.
He repeated that request today but mentioned that no other broadcasters have personally reached out to him regarding his comments, reports RTE.
He also said the matter has been raised with EBU Director General Noel Curran over the past few months.
The latest remarks follow a letter sent by RTÉ’s sub-branch of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) urging Mr Bakhurst to oppose Israel’s participation in the contest.
Both Ireland and Israel are set to compete in the second Eurovision Song Contest Semi-Final, scheduled for 15 May, reports RTE.
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