RTE should have warned about comments, BCC rules

A complaint over the use of foul language and references to drug abuse in an interview with Eamon Dunphy by Gerry Ryan has been rejected by the Broadcasting Complaints Commission.

However, the BCC ruled RTÉ should have shown a warning about the material before airing the programme.

The viewer, Mr Derek Lawlor, complained to the BCC over RTÉ's Ryan Confidentialprogrammed on April 24th. He said he was outraged by a number of elements of the programme, including Dunphy's repeated use of the 'f' word and his assertion that he would take cocaine and crack if he was offered.

Mr Lawlor, who watched the programme with his 12-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son, was also offended by Dunphy's cigarette smoking and Ryan's cigar smoking during the interview.

He argued the two men, who were looked up to as celebrities, set a "poor example" and RTÉ was guilty of "appalling behaviour and irresponsibility".

The broadcaster defended itself by noting the programme was shown at 10.10 p.m., which is "well after the watershed on a weekday when younger viewers would be going to school", and it would not have expected children to be watching.

In reference to the drugs issue, RTÉ said it was mindful of its responsibility not to broadcast anything which might encourage illegal or harmful behaviour, but also of the constitutional right of Dunphy to freedom of expression.

It also said that although it has strict rules on showing smoking on television, it felt it was warranted in this case for "reasons relating to dramatic considerations".

It added: "The production team wanted Mr Dunphy to feel he was participating in an after-dinner conversation, rather than a television programme and felt the rhythm of the interview would have been disrupted had they intervened and asked him to stop smoking,".

The Broadcasting Complaints Commission upheld RTÉ's defence, stating that it accepted the watershed argument and it felt the content "was acceptable within the context of the programme".

However, the BCC said the station could have broadcast a warning of unsuitability for children prior to airing the programme, and it should consider incorporating such warnings in the future.