Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has defended a measure in her party’s manifesto to commission an independent review into RTÉ’s coverage on international conflicts.
The manifesto committed to commissioning an “independent human rights and journalist expert review into the objectivity of coverage by RTÉ of the Israeli genocide in Gaza and other international conflicts”.
Ms McDonald said that she respected the necessity for “editorial independence” and that the commissioning of the review would be independent of government.
“The objective here is not for political interference but actually to grow and develop confidence and trust,” she said.
“What we are proposing is a peer review – nothing got to do with politicians – informed by human rights expertise but also journalistic expertise.”
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Asked why it was in her party’s manifesto if such a review could not be triggered by a government, Ms McDonald said that manifestos have “concepts and ideas and initiatives that aren’t necessarily directly triggered by government”.
She stressed the importance of RTÉ’s role as the national broadcaster.
‘A dangerous departure’ – FF
“RTÉ occupies a very particular space in the Irish media landscape not least they are in receipt of taxpayers’ funds,” said Ms McDonald. “They have to be the gold standard in my mind of a trusted source of information.”
The leaders of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil criticised the plan, saying it was a “dog whistle to conspiracy theorists”.
Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said: “I just can’t imagine this scenario in any functioning democracy, that a political party that wants to lead a government will put in its manifesto, which is a list of political promises to the Irish people, an independent review of RTÉ’s objectivity.
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“They might want to look at this in relation to the Middle East today, but what if it’s another issue tomorrow.”
Mr Harris said it was “a disgraceful act” and called on Ms McDonald to withdraw the “despicable and chilling proposal today”.
“Journalists put themselves in harm’s way on a daily basis to report the news and report the facts, and to even suggest RTÉ needs to be independently reviewed is a dog whistle to conspiracy theorists in an effort to undermine media freedoms,” he said.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said that while “we may all have complaints”, it is in his view “a dangerous departure” to call for a review of a media outlet.
“Political parties can’t be setting up committees to investigate the media,” he said.
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Mr Martin said he was “shocked” about the proposal, saying Ireland already has an independent media watchdog called Coimisiún na Meán and that “political parties can’t be investigating” media outlets.
The National Union of Journalists has written to Ms McDonald and Sinn Fein’s Director of Elections Matt Carty to express grave concern at the party’s proposal.
NUJ Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley has pointed out that RTÉ is bound by existing legislation and is regulated by Coimisiún na Meán.
The union said the proposol would be in breach of the principles of the European Media Freedom Act and would set a dangerous precedent in terms of direct and indirect State interference in the remit of the existing regulatory body.
Final meeting of current Cabinet
Mr Harris and Mr Martin were speaking as they arrived for the final Cabinet meeting before the General Election.
The ministers have now moved into a caretaking role until the next government is formed.
Mr Harris was expected to brief his ministerial colleagues on his phone conversation with US president-elect Donald Trump and his recent meeting with EU leaders in Hungary.
He was also due to update the Cabinet on how to guard Ireland’s economic security amid global instability.
Mr Martin was due to inform the Cabinet on how five members of the Irish Defence Forces will serve with the UN-authorised mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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Ten days to go
Campaigning and canvassing continues with just ten days left until polling.
Sinn Féin have focused on its proposals to support people with disabilities, with party leader Mary Lou McDonald campaigning in Dublin.
Mr Martin is also in Dublin, where his party is publishing its disability plan.
After Cabinet, Mr Harris travelled to Co Kildare and Co Laois.
Green Party Leader Roderic O’Gorman said his party will invest €1bn in tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, while the Social Democrats launched what it termed its ‘Positive Neutrality’ policy.
People Before Profit leader Richard Boyd Barrett detailed his plans for standing in solidarity with Palestine, an issue that was heavily discussed in Monday’s debate on RTÉ Upfront.
Meanwhile, the Labour Party has published its ‘Crime and Garda Recruitment’ policy.
Additional reporting Fiachra Ó Cionnaith
