Regulator rules out inquiry into RTÉ programmes

THE BROADCASTING regulator has ruled out an investigation of RTÉ current affairs programming as called for by Fianna Fáil TD Éamon Ó Cuív.

Broadcasting Authority of Ireland chairman Bob Collins said there was “no facility” available to it to “engage in a more widespread and retrospective” investigation as demanded by the TD.

Mr Ó Cuív yesterday led members of the Oireachtas Committee on Communications in sharply criticising RTÉ over the Prime Time Investigates programme which libelled Fr Kevin Reynolds.

Accusing the broadcaster of cultural bias, he said there should be an independent investigation of all recent current affairs output at the station, based on a random selection of programmes. The review would look at how topics and panels are chosen, the keeping of notes and how tweets and texts are used, he proposed.

Members of the committee demanded to know the legal advice RTÉ received before deciding to air the programme in May 2011 and the cost to the taxpayer of the settlement RTÉ reached in a libel case taken by Fr Reynolds.

“You have undermined a lot of the credibility ordinary people would have had in RTÉ programmes. The biggest attack on investigative journalism here was the sloppy way this programme was put together,” Mr Ó Cuív said.

Independent TD Mattie McGrath called on the chairman of RTÉ, Tom Savage, to resign over the affair. Mr McGrath said that what happened to Fr Reynolds was “downright disgraceful” and he rejected RTÉ’s contention that it was a once-off.

He claimed Mr Savage’s position was untenable and urged the RTÉ chairman to consider his position.

Clare Labour TD Michael McNamara called for an independent investigation into the programme’s treatment of the late Brother Gerard Dillon. The family of Br Dillon, who was originally from Clarecastle, Co Clare, and died in December 2005, have rejected an allegation that he abused a pupil.

Sinn Féin’s Martin Ferris said the case of RTÉ’s treatment of Fr Reynolds was an utter disgrace. The State broadcaster had betrayed the trust of the people through its treatment of the priest, he said. “I cannot understand why no one in RTÉ shouted stop and why no one showed concern for his human rights.”

Mr Ferris drew parallels between this case and the treatment of his party’s presidential election candidate, Martin McGuinness, last year.

He said Mr McGuinness had been accused on RTÉ of being a murderer, without any evidence being put forward.

Other members compared Fr Reynolds’s case to the controversy over a false tweet broadcast during the presidential debate last year, which damaged Seán Gallagher’s chances of election.

Mayo Fine Gael TD John O’Mahony asked if there were victims in RTÉ who were being made to carry the can for others within the organisation.

Mr Collins said he was confident the investigation carried out by former BBC Northern Ireland controller Anna Carragher was thorough and comprehensive and had access to enough information to form a judgment.

As the committee ran out of time to question Mr Savage and director general Noel Curran, the two men will have to appear again before the committee next Tuesday.