Sir, – Judging from his letter, Brian Flanagan (March 13th) had a "strange experience" as an audience member for The Frontlinepresidential programme.
However, my experience, not only on the presidential Frontlineprogramme but also on other previous Frontlineprogrammes as a questioner was remarkably different, as I was at all times treated with dignity and respect and was in no way "manipulated" to suit an RTÉ agenda. I am not a member of any political party and had no axe to grind against any of the presidential candidates.
When the researcher rang me beforehand about asking a question in relation to the forthcoming mandatory reporting relating to child abuse, I readily agreed, as I feel very strongly on the issue.
The researcher spent a considerable time, as on previous occasions, going through the possible format of the question to be asked. When I arrived in the studio I was given a copy of our mutually agreed question and even then the researcher reminded me that I was still free to alter the format of the question, which I did.
I assume that this dignified procedure was followed by The Frontlineteam in relation to the other questioners even though this is disputed by another questioner.
Mr Flanagan cannot compare the presidential Frontlineprogramme with previous programmes where questions were often adopted from the general audience on arrival.
Obviously greater care beforehand had to go into the presidential Frontlinequestions so that each candidate would receive questions that specifically related to them, both for the sake of balance and to see how each candidate coped under pressure from tough questioning.
Certainly the bogus tweet knocked Mr Gallagher’s confidence, as he fumbled hesitatingly in his response to this tweet – especially exemplified by his use of that infamous phrase “brown envelope”, which caused a ripple of laughter in the audience.
While RTÉ's current affairs programmes have done themselves and the nation a serious disservice, especially in the case of the unjust treatment of Fr Kevin Reynolds in the Primetimeprogramme, this should not be used by agenda-driven people to emasculate RTÉ from exposing the serious structural and personal injustices that pervade our society and for which it should be congratulated for fulfilling such a necessary role in the past. – Yours, etc,
Sir, – Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar claims that RTÉ has a bias towards political parties that are centre-left and those that have liberal views. (Home News, March 13th). I wish . . . – Yours, etc,
Sir, – I was not in The Frontlineaudience the night Seán Gallagher's presidential bid was destroyed; like many, I watched it live via the internet. Brian Flanagan's letter (March 13th) was cause for some concern.
Leaving aside his revelation that political hacks threw quasi-insults at the production team during the breaks, I was drawn to the remark that a young person displaying technical knowledge of accountancy at the tender age of 22 is “mesmerising”.
One of the enduring positives in our country is our level of higher education. A consequence of this is a large population of young people (many of whom have emigrated, myself included) with specialist knowledge and the interest in politics which motivates the application of this knowledge to political debate. If this is a matter warranting anything other than celebration, then perhaps those asking the questions, like presidential candidates themselves, should be required to complete at least 35 rotations of the sun! – Yours, etc,