Broadcasting watchdog clears RTÉ Ganley profile

THE BROADCASTING Complaints Commission (BCC) has rejected complaints about an RTÉ Prime Timeprogramme on Libertas founder Declan Ganley.

The BCC said it found no evidence of editorial bias in the profile of Mr Ganley broadcast on November 27th of last year and presented by reporter Katie Hannon. The complaints, which related to standards of fairness, objectivity and impartiality, did not come from Mr Ganley or Libertas.

“Mr Ganley has become a part of the Irish and European political scene and therefore, he can expect his past to be scrutinised and questions to be asked about his support, both financial and personal,” the BCC said.

“Mr Ganley represented himself on the programme and was afforded ample opportunity to refute allegations and to express opinion. The commission was of the opinion that the subject matter was treated fairly and was fair to all interests concerned. There was no evidence of editorial bias in this broadcast.”

A spokesman for Libertas said the organisation had no comment to make on the issue yesterday.

The BCC said the programme-makers offered Mr Ganley a fair right of reply and ample opportunity to answer questions that were of public interest.

The funding of Libertas has been, and continues to be, widely debated and discussed in political, media and public forums, the BCC said.

“In entering such a political arena, Mr Ganley could expect his business past and political aspirations to be held up to scrutiny. It is common practice in democratic societies to scrutinise and question political people in such a manner.”

In the BCC’s summary of one of the complaints, the complainant described himself as having no association with Mr Ganley, Libertas or any campaign against Lisbon, “but is merely a private citizen increasingly concerned about RTÉ’s obvious political motivations”.

The complainant argued that RTÉ was attempting to discredit Mr Ganley, as “part of a clear political motivation that betrays serious lack of objectivity and impartiality on its part”.

The complainant referred to the fact that The Irish Times'public affairs correspondent, Colm Keena, contributed to the programme. " The Irish Timeshas a very clear pro-Lisbon agenda. The paper has a known left-wing bias, as increasingly does RTÉ."

In its response, RTÉ said: " The Irish Timescan defend itself. However, RTÉ doubts that there is evidence to sustain the claim that The Irish Timeshas a left-wing bias."

Rejecting the allegations in this complaint, RTÉ said objectivity in news and current affairs was the essence of public service broadcasting. “RTÉ believes the report on Mr Ganley was objective, impartial and fair and that RTÉ had no political motivation whatsoever in broadcasting this report.”

The second complaint, from a different complainant, alleged the programme contained “wild, unproven allegations” and “failed to get hard facts” about Mr Ganley. RTÉ responded: “This was a careful piece of investigative journalism carried out in the public interest.”