RTÉ gives prominence to anti-water charges events, claims Pat Rabbitte

The Labour Party has identified a number of RTÉ programmes it believes have given undue prominence and coverage to the anti-water charges movement.

The programmes include the Marian Finucane Show, Saturday with Claire Byrne and This Week, all on RTÉ Radio One.

RTÉ News coverage of the recent Labour Party conference in Killarney was also singled out by sources in the party, who claimed a protest at the event was given undue prominence.

Former minister for communications Pat Rabbitte launched a broadside against RTÉ in the Dáil earlier this week when he accused the national broadcaster of acting as “recruitment sergeant” for the far left and Sinn Féin.

He alleged the broadcaster was biased in favour of opponents of the charges.

The issue was also widely discussed at the parliamentary Labour Party, with TDs and senators voicing similar concerns.

Mr Rabbitte on Thursday declined to single out particular journalists or shows in RTÉ news and current affairs but expressed extreme frustration at what he claimed was inadequate coverage by the broadcaster of the improvements and investment needed in the water system.

“I have not seen one programme dealing with that issue,” he said, adding that TDs such as Paul Murphy and Ruth Coppinger were given extensive coverage.

The party previously had an issue with Ms Byrne claiming on air that Labour had sought a free vote from Fine Gael over Clare Daly’s abortion Bill in exchange for an agreement over selling the State share in Aer Lingus.

Labour strongly rejected this claim.

Also last Saturday, sources said, Ms Finucane gave coverage of those travelling to the march in Dublin.

An RTÉ spokeswoman said the station absolutely rejected the claims of imbalanced and biased coverage of the introduction of water charges.

* This article was amended on March 28th, 2015