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Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

Government announces inquiry into RTE programme on Kevin Reynolds

Pat Rabbitte announced that the independent inquiry will determine the ‘true facts and circumstances’ which led to the Prime Time programme on Fr Reynolds being broadcast earlier this year.

THE MINISTER FOR Communications Pat Rabbitte has announced an independent inquiry into how RTE broadcast a programme which contained libellous allegations about a priest.

The Cabinet today agreed that an inquiry should be held to “determine the true facts and circumstances” which led to the broadcast of the Prime Time programme on Father Kevin Reynolds on RTE in May of this year.

The programme accused Reynolds of raping a teenage girl and fathering a child with her while he served as a missionary in Kenya in the 1980s.

Reynolds brought a defamation case against the national broadcaster, leading to RTE last week acknowledging that the allegations were “wholly untrue”. The broadcaster made a settlement with the priest in the High Court.

Making the announcement of the inquiry, Minister Rabbitte noted that the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is the independent regulator of compliance of broadcast content. The BAI’s Compliance Committee is tasked with monitoring and enforcing compliance by broadcasters with various aspects of the relevant legislation relating to fairness, impartiality and enforcement of standards.

The Minister has requested the Compliance Committee to investigate whether RTE has “met its statutory responsibilities around objectivity, impartiality and fairness”, according to a statement. He has requested the Committee to report back and make recommendations to the BAI.

The Government has also requested that the inquiry be concluded within two months.

Read more: RTE says it cannot disclose Fr Reynolds settlement details

Read more: Catholic priests group accuses RTE of insincerity over Fr Reynolds apology


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9 Comments
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    Mute winding_down
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    Dec 10th 2014, 11:17 AM

    Thank you.

    157
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    Mute Robert Rusk
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    Dec 10th 2014, 11:33 AM

    “Boole’s work in mathematicians is now central to the design of computer circuits.”

    Boole’s work is in fact one of the most important concepts in computer science (if not THE most important). It is a fundamental building block of modern logical reasoning.

    133
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    Mute UndercoverGarda
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    Dec 10th 2014, 12:17 PM

    How easy is it to count in binary?

    It’s as easy as 01 10 11.

    73
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    Mute Leigh Power
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    Dec 10th 2014, 1:27 PM

    There are 10 kinds of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don’t.

    63
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    Mute Robert Rusk
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    Dec 10th 2014, 4:47 PM

    “Boole’s work in mathematics is now central to computer science.”

    Close enough …

    5
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    Mute Enda
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    Dec 10th 2014, 11:21 AM

    Fair play to the both of them

    109
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    Mute Atticus the Accuser
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    Dec 10th 2014, 12:00 PM

    P.C gone mad! If a scientist of his calibre has a theory maybe the evidence should be explored before the witch hunt and burning commences.

    There’s a reason you only see black guys winning the Olympic 100m sprint Gold and there’s a reason you don’t see them win any medals for swimming! To state such a fact is true!

    Human intelligence has a genetic component and also takes in environmental factors.No surprise that Bill Gates in school by random chance had access to one of the most advance computers in the USA at the time.He had the genetic predisposition of a high intellect and the right factors in his environment and he became a Titan in computers.

    If people in Africa don’t have the same standard in education well obviously they’re unlikely to fulfil any genetic potential in intelligence. It doesn’t mean under different environment they wouldn’t.

    If someone said all black people are not as smart as all white people that statement is false and obviously racist.But if someone said due to environmental conditions plenty of Africans may not develop the full potential of intelligence compared to the Western population that statement has evidence.

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    Mute Dee4
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    Dec 10th 2014, 12:22 PM

    @Att , re your swimming example it depends on the reasoning and if the reasoning is true. Swimming is a relatively expensive middle class activity so chances are Africa will not feature high in Olympic swimming or Dressage or yachting. If its genetic , less buoyancy (I have no idea) then its either true or not true. The next issue would be misusing the facts for propaganda to propagate hate.

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    Mute Leviathan
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    Dec 10th 2014, 3:07 PM

    Can you explain to me how swimming is a relatively expensive “middle class” activity?

    Aside from a pair of shorts…you really don’t need anything else for it. Its no different than walking either…you wouldn’t necessarily need lessons to learn, just an attentive parent.

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    Mute Andrew McQuillan
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    Dec 10th 2014, 5:45 PM

    Atticus, your last paragraph is not an accurate description of the comments of this man. Unintentionally or not, you have rewritten a version based on a possible intention of different phraseology. His own words were very different, racist, and at odds with the scientific research that his own developments unlocked.

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    Mute Vera Dawber Power
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    Dec 10th 2014, 11:31 AM

    What a wonderful kind gesture..God bless you..and thanks.

    56
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    Mute Thierry Rat
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    Dec 10th 2014, 12:14 PM

    POlitical correctness restricts science

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    Mute Frank
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    Dec 10th 2014, 11:53 AM

    Barack Obama should do the same with his with all the proceeds going towards victims of drone strikes.

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    Mute Dee4
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    Dec 10th 2014, 11:21 AM

    bit if a misleading headline, if I understand the story he will donate a % of 3million? hardly the same as “donate some of his millions to an Irish university”

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    Mute Enda
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    Dec 10th 2014, 11:30 AM

    Indeed. 4 plus “other” charities will also get a share of the 3 million so hardly millions each as claimed.

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    Mute Dee4
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    Dec 10th 2014, 12:40 PM

    Why all the dislikes?? the article states the proceeds are €3.8 million and he will give some to cork, which to implies a sum probably well under a million

    “Watson said he hopes to use some of the proceeds of the medal’s auction to set up an institute dedicated to George Boole at University College Cork.”

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    Mute Steve M
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    Dec 10th 2014, 12:56 PM

    Puts into perspective some of the comments you see here like yesterday “Thats why everyone hates Americans” “Americans are fat and stupid” etc

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    Mute Leviathan
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    Dec 10th 2014, 3:32 PM

    Those crusties generally are only referring to white, Christian Americans. Its the safe group to slag off without offending their PC cohorts.

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    Mute Ollie
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    Dec 10th 2014, 4:37 PM

    Well done to both

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    Mute jp quinn
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    Dec 10th 2014, 5:14 PM

    Boole is Cool.

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    Mute johnhindepost
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    Dec 11th 2014, 12:22 AM

    100% William Rowan Hamilton, 1005 George Boole and 52% of James Watson are Irish.

    Mathematics and the fundamentals of computing discovered by Irish.
    Now we know why all these companies are setting up second base here in Ireland.
    We Irish got the geek gene……………..yehaw!!!

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    Mute Colm Kelly
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    Dec 11th 2014, 4:32 AM

    Boole was English

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