RTÉ on back foot over Harney prank

RTÉ was forced earlier today to clarify that Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney had not resigned after a spoof television programme put out the rumour that she had.

RTÉ’s political correspondent David McCullagh did not see the funny side of presenter Jennifer Maguire turning up outside the gates of Leinster House this morning asking politicians if they heard the rumours about Ms Harney’s resignation. A tweet was also sent to that effect.

The vox-pops were meant as a spoof for the Republic of Telly programme which airs on RTÉ Two on Wednesday nights. Mr McCullagh remonstrated with the reporter involved and made a complaint about it to RTÉ.

RTÉ then issued a statement on the News at One which read: "RTÉ Television wishes to clarify that during the recording this morning of an item for the satirical RTÉ Two show Republic of Telly, a suggestion was made that Minister for Health Mary Harney was rumoured to be resigning. RTÉ wishes to clarify that this was a prank and is untrue."

Mr McCullagh said he had “absolutely no comment to make” on suggestions that he made an internal complaint, but an RTÉ newsroom source said the item was “massively inappropriate” given the seriousness of the predicament facing the country at present and that the Minister has been the target of protesters recently.

“People would have thought she was a genuine reporter because she had an RTÉ mike so he said to her that it was not on,” the source said.

“Everything about it was wrong. If you are doing a satirical programme you might think it is a hoot, but when you are doorstepping politicians and acting if this was true, it is just not funny.”

A spokesman for the Minister said she had made no complaint. He said Ms Harney was not even aware of what was happening as she was taking questions in the Dáil at the time.

“It shows you how viral this Twitter stuff when serious journalists start to follow up on this nonsense because some comedienne sent out a tweet about it.”