Broadcasting body rejects complaints about RTÉ’s coverage of abortion

Two complaints about RTÉ’s handling of the abortion issue were among four complaints rejected in April by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

The authority also rejected one complaint alleging bias on the part of Galway Bay FM's Keith Finnegan Show, and an allegation of bias against RTÉ Radio One's Marian Finucane Show.

The Alliance for the Defence of Family and Marriage alleged there was a significant lack of balance in RTÉ’s handling of an item concerning a pro-life counselling agency in Dublin.

An undercover reporter for The Times (Ireland edition) had made a recording of agency personnel who claimed links between abortion and breast cancer, and abortion and child abuse.

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The complainant cited a meta analysis conducted in China which found that the risk of breast cancer in women increased by 44 percent after one abortion, by 76 per cent after two abortions and by 89 per cent after three abortions.

The complainant noted RTÉ asked the opinions of Dr Peter Boylan chairman of the institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and Professor Sean Brady of the Coombe Hospital who undermined the Chinese study. The complainant objected to RTÉ having not invited a counter-medical argument, a factor which it said could lead misguided women to accept a pro-abortion argument.

The complainants alleged bias was evident in the News at One programme, Drivetime, the Six One News, Nine News, and Claire Byrne Live.

The broadcaster maintained it dealt with the story in a fair, impartial and objective manner.

The decision to reject the complaint by the Broadcasting Authority’s Executive Complaints Forum was unanimous.

The members of the forum were of the opinion that the broadcaster did not breach the authority’s Code of Fairness, Objectivity and Impartiality in News and Current Affairs.

The second complaint in relation to the abortion issue concerned the use of the word “abortion”.

Complainant Brendan O'Callaghan said the use of the word by RTÉ's Nine News programme in relation to the report of the deliberations of the Citizens' Assembly, misrepresented the work of the Assembly.

He said the Assembly was considering the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution which did not use the word “abortion”.

RTÉ said it has consistently and correctly reported that the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution effectively restricts the availability of abortion in this State.

The authority’s Executive Forum did not find the report infringed the requirements of the Broadcasting Act.

In relation to a discussion on homelessness on Galway Bay FM, Mr J Connelly alleged The Keith Finnegan Show had breached the requirement for fairness, objectivity and impartiality.

The complainant referred to the presenter using words which included “those Romanian type of people, and again not being racist...” while then Galway City Mayor Noel Larkin referred to the homeless saying “... if you have to sleep rough in the street. there is, there is some inherent problem there...”.

However, the Broadcasting Authority’s Compliance Committee determined the discussion set out a range of different aspects of the social issue.

The committee found that while the interview with Mr Larkin included a number of “generalisations about people who chose to sleep in the street” this was counterpointed by a representative of Cope Galway a social services organisation.

The fourth complaint alleged RTÉ presenter Marian Finucane effectively showed disrespect for the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro and an interviewee who clearly admired Mr Castro.

The complainant said after the interviewee left the studio Ms Finucane uttered the words: “Well there is no doubt he’s a great enthusiast for (indecipherable) and to the best of my knowledge he is also married to a Cuban, so that could influence your thinking, you know”.

The complaint was rejected.