Minister for Communications Patrick O’Donovan has stated that he intends to request Coimisiún na Meán to assess recent media reporting, including that by RTÉ News, on the fuel protests over the past few days.
Speaking on regional radio outlets such as Tipp FM, WLR FM, and Limerick Live 95 this morning, he explained that his constituency office had received calls from individuals who supported protesting but opposed road blockades, reports RTE.
“There were people protesting who disagreed with blockades and I never heard their voices,” he outlined.
He further said he would question whether the reporting was “balanced or was it skewed and I think that’s a role for Coimisiún na Meán?”
“Coimisiún na Meán may turn around to me and say ‘nothing to see here, move along move along’, but I’m going to ask them the question anyway,” he said, reports RTE.
The minister also indicated that social media coverage would be reviewed, especially in terms of whether it maintained balance.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) labelled the remarks as “sinister and deeply disturbing”.
NUJ assistant general secretary Séamus Dooley said the minister had created a false comparison to justify interfering with the editorial independence of public service broadcasters and licensed radio stations, reports RTE.
Mr Dooley said that Mr O’Donovan holds influence over funding and policy decisions and should refrain from putting pressure on independent media.
He added that journalists are obligated to report on events and pointed out that reporters faced abuse during the protests.
Mr Dooley called for respect towards independent journalism and cautioned that there is no room for “Trumpian” attacks on journalists, reports RTE.
In reply to the minister’s remarks, Coimisiún na Meán said that “we are aware that the minister has expressed concern in relation to recent broadcast coverage of the fuel protests,” reports RTE.
It added that “Coimisiún na Meán operates a statutory complaints process under the Broadcasting and Other Media Regulation Acts 2009”, reports RTE.
It is understood that the minister is scheduled to meet with Coimisiún na Meán tomorrow as part of routine engagements, during which he will “no doubt raise a number of issues including media coverage of the last week,” according to his spokesperson, who added that he is “interested in examining the amount of complaints the regulator may have received on the issues involved here”, reports RTE.
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