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THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY of Ireland has upheld, in part, a complaint made against Newstalk’s Breakfast show.
The complaint claimed the presenters of the show “attacked” the Taoiseach in a discussion about his decision not to take part in a public debate on the Seanad referendum. It was argued that this segment of the show was not adequately fair, objective and impartial in current affairs.
At one part in the show, Enda Kenny was compared to the Chairman of the Communist Party, Mao Zedong.
The complainant argued that no Taoiseach ever takes part in such debates outside of general election time, but in its response, Newstalk pointed out that former Taoiseach John Bruton debated in the 1996 divorce referendum.
The broadcaster also stated that the Taoiseach had refused opportunities from other broadcast media, including Newstalk, to be interviewed one-on-one in relation to the referendum.
Newstalk 106-108fm does not believe their commentary on the Taoiseach were “attacks” as suggested by the complainant. The presenters were making clear points of information on a matter of public importance. These points were also put to Fine Gael TDs, Charlie Flanagan and Simon Harris, over the course of many programmes.
In its decision, the compliance committee noted that the segment in the breakfast show and the discussion between presenters on news stories is a regular feature. It also accepted that Kenny’s deicision not to take part in a debate was a “legitimate focus of discussion and debate” at the time.
However it found that the failure to include other perspectives on this topic meant the programme discussion failed to meet BAI requirements for fairness, objectivity and impartiality in news and current affairs.
Further elements of the complaint relating to accuracy, tone and an infringement of guidelines on election and referenda coverage were rejected.
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I think there will be a lot more Bulls coming out following this story.
Simpson scene:- Marge can i have a pet duck ? No Homer , you have Benji the bull ! . well can he have a duck?
He’s had to emigrate to live a life true to himself. Sounds like a well-trodden Irish path.
He doesn’t get to be himself- he won’t be a gay bull anymore he’ll be a bullock -
The Iona Institute are hopefully pissed off over this.. The bull raised cash faster than they did. :-)
Please stop calling it an “Institute”: it’s a lobby group that writes conservative opinion pieces which it refers to as “papers”.
UK law would not permit an organisation like this to refer to itself as an “Institute” and nor should secular Ireland.
The only learned thing about his conservative lobby group is the name “Iona”, which it has re-appropriated from the Abbey set up in Scotland by St Columba.
Rank over!
@winding. Utterly and completely agree with you.
But that’s the name they legally got, so that’s what the homophobic sods have to be called.
However, from now on, I’ll phrase them this way… Iona ‘Institute’.
Apols and lesson learned.
@David: Thanks!
I would suggest that if the Iona ‘Institute’ need money that badly, then they should apply for funding like real centres of learning do – from the Higher Education Authority.
I suspect that’d quickly dispel their confusion about the difference between their lobby group and the many bona fide academic institutions whose reputations they bring into disrepute by using ‘Institute’ in their title.
Now can these same people put their hands in their pockets and give money to child line also. Iv nothing against a gay bull but some people need to get their priorities right
Three questions: Why are humans more important than cattle? Why do you care what people donate their own money to? Do you regularly donate to child line?
Yes, I believe children that may need to ring child line are more important than this bull, I do give to charity by the way, and no I don’t care what other people do with their money. But are you honestly saying that saving this bull is worth more than children living in fear having a number to ring when they need it?
I believe animals are as important as humans. That’s what animal rights is about. So these people who wanted to donate, it’s their choice and their right to have those beliefs.
I believe it’s equally important to save a bull from fear/harm as to save a human from fear/harm.
Good luck with the mooove Benjy
I keep waiting for this to be confirmed as a wind up but it seems like its genuine. Sad reflection on society when something as trivial can not only garner publicity but actually raise money too. I look forward to the gay lobby getting behind (no pun intended) more noble causes.
I think it’s a sad reflection on society that people see animals’ lives as trivial. And this story is a good reflection on society.
So why aren’t you and the gay lobby out there campaigning to save straight bulls? How long have you been hetero phobic?
I am trying to save straight animals, haha. Most of the animals I try to save are straight or if they’re gay then I don’t know it…Most of the animals that ARAN tries to save are probably straight.
Fcuk sake, the bull isn’t fir for purpose, he should be made into burgers!
What because an animal isnt fit for purpose in industry eyes that he deserves to be slaughtered.
so any animal not fit for purpose deserves death? Are u serious? This is why animals rights are always stampled on . Human race is turning into something vile.
Would u say the same about a human not been fit for purpose?
It’s strange that a bull got saved only because it raped other bulls.
I mean, no other bulls were a fan of Benji’s prodding, I’m sure.
He should be hanging up in a factory!!
Where does AI man get his stock, couldn’t benjin have been a donor.
If benjy was that good a bull he would have(a) lived out his life at an AI station (with other bulls )
And (b) he wouldn’t have been bought for 5 grand or so -
He’s a hornless bull
What a load of bo#lo#ks.
Good bye my friend
Must have been some closet.
I wouldn’t mind but he’s an absolutely dreadful looking bull. If he was straight he’d easily be bought for less than 2000, total discrimination against heterosexual Bulls.
A very moving story. As I get older, I’m moving towards a veggie diet. I know I’m very sentimental over
Animals. I no longer eat beef or lamb. Animals do know when they get near the slaughter house. It’s terrible,
They are living beings.
That bull looks fairly feminine
Good im glad he was saved. Jus cause he doesn serve industry expectations.
Hate what this world has become oh no there no use slaughter them as if a life means nothing.
Shameful and humans should be ashamed of themselves to allow other animals lifes be so disposable to them.
Sometimes its evident humans are the worst thing to happen this world. Destroying every th in and anything
What a relief for the straight bulls of Ireland.
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