Sir, – In finding against RTÉ, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland gives the station a fool’s pardon by stating that this gross lapse in journalistic standards was not a result of deliberate malice on the part of our national broadcaster, merely incompetence and a complete lack of understanding of what actually constitutes the minimum acceptable journalistic standards (Front page, March 8th). RTÉ’s defence of the complaint plainly illustrates that extraordinary ignorance.
What is needed is a severe sanction for the station and the personnel involved. They may well have contributed materially to a change in the outcome of an important national election.
At a minimum, the RTÉ presenter and the production team involved should be barred from involvement in any future election debates. Unless our national broadcaster makes it clear to its own personnel and the licence fee paying public that it understands and upholds the need for the highest, not the lowest, journalistic standards, then we might as well include it in the public assets for sale to reduce the national debt. Which, on reflection, might not be a bad move. – Yours, etc,