TDs asked not to talk to pirate radio stations

Outgoing Dáil members have been asked by the Broadcasting Commission not to give interviews to illegal "pirate" radio stations…

Outgoing Dáil members have been asked by the Broadcasting Commission not to give interviews to illegal "pirate" radio stations during the election campaign.

In a letter to the chairman of the Members Interests Committee, Mr Tony Killeen, the commission's chairman, Mr Conor J. Maguire said the "proliferation" of pirate stations was an "area of concern".

"The situation is particularly exacerbated at the time of the run-up to an election such as we have at present." He went on: "An issue that has created difficulty in addressing the problem has been that in certain parts of the country, illegal stations have been given credibility through appearances on air by public representatives."

Mr Maguire sought an "undertaking" from the committee, which vets the conduct in some areas of TDs, that politicians will refuse to co-operate with pirate stations over the next three weeks.

In a reply, however, Mr Killeen said: "The committee is not in a position to give a formal undertaking on behalf of all Dáil members as it does not control the behaviour of members."

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Mark Hennessy

Mark Hennessy

Mark Hennessy is Ireland and Britain Editor with The Irish Times