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THE BROADCASTING AUTHORITY of Ireland has upheld a complaint about the “Power to Power Ourselves” wind energy ad from the Irish Wind Energy Association.
At their meetings held in May and June, the BAI compliance committee considered 10 complaints, upholding three and rejecting seven.
Upheld complaints
The complaints to the wind energy ad on TV3 and RTÉ both came from Francis Clauson.
He stated that the ad, which features a haunting voiceover speech by JFK on Ireland’s destiny, ran foul of a ban on political advertising.
Broadcasters’ response
In its response, TV3 said that:
Having carefully reviewed the complaint and considered the application of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland’s guidelines for commercial advertising, [we do] not accept that this is a political message or advertisement.The broadcaster states that the Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA) is a limited liability company.
TV3 added that political advertising is merely restricted for “political parties, trade unions and charities”, and said it was not directed “towards a political end”, as outlawed by Section 41 (3) of the Broadcasting Act 2009.
RTÉ, meanwhile, apologised to Francis Clauson.
The broadcaster said:
RTÉ wishes to apologise to the complainant for the failure to reply to his initial complaint; this was simply – and very regrettably – due to misfiling of his email of 26 January.
RTE said the commercial promotes, generally, the contribution which
wind energy could make to Ireland’s energy requirement.
That potential is not a matter of political debate or controversy and nowhere in the complaint does the complainant substantiate his claim that wind energy is currently a matter of significant political dispute.
The BAI upheld the complaint, and cited the decision in the High Court case of Colgan v the IRTC, which gave a wide definition of the phrase “a political end”.
Apologised
The BAI added:
The committee noted that it included content intended to promote wind as a source of energy and as an avenue to energy independence. It also included an implicit criticism of current energy policy in Ireland.
The BAI said that the Broadcasting Act 2009 prohibits persons and organisations from using radio and television advertising to influence government policy, “even in the case of causes and issues which might be supported by some or indeed a large portion of the population”.
The committee upheld the complaint in both cases by a majority decision, suggesting not everyone on the BAI committee agreed that the ad should be banned.
The BAI also rejected several other complaints:
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Francis. Get a life.
Francis gets all the puss
Id say Francis ClothesOn could do with getting his clothes off.
@ray.farrelly: Wind energy is a scam which you have fallen for. Get a life.
Owen. The only thing I have fallen for is my wife. You clown.
@ray.farrelly: Co2 emissions have risen last year. wind has only small impact.
Owen. I could not give a rats ass about Co2 emissions or climate change or anything else you mighty say. Now go away.
Mr. Clauson celebrated his victory with an extra dry cream cracker for tea, then flagellated himself whilst watching The Angelus.
I thought it was a brilliant ad.
Fantastic ad
Wouldn’t mind if it was a Kennedy family member doing the complaining or something but this guy sounds like a right twаt. The type that tucks their shirt into their underpants.
Great ad, and what a fantastic speech. You only realise how much the tone of political debate has been lowered in recent years when you listen back to something like this.
@Aisling Farrell: only a great ad to the gullible
Jaysus tonight, Francis has little else to be doing with himself.
Power to be sad b’stards
Nothing to be worried about in life if that’s all you’ve to complain about
Bet they upheld it just so they could name check him!!
Quangoes have to justify their existence.
Over 40% of Wind Energy Shutdown on sunday night
http://irishenergyblog.blogspot.ie/2016/09/over-40-of-wind-energy-shutdown-last.html
Well done Francis !
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