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A COMPLAINT MADE against sports journalist Eamon Dunphy’s comments which referred to the government’s “cruelty”, has been rejected by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI).
The complaint was in relation to RTÉ’s Claire Byrne Live, and referred to language used by Eamon Dunphy referring to the Government and some politicians.
The complaint was submitted under the Broadcasting Act 2009, under Fairness, Objectivity and Impartiality in news and current affairs section.
The complainant said that Dunphy’s comments were ”unfair and inaccurate”
and “were couched in extreme and/or emotive language”.
The complainant states that this kind of language does not lend itself to balanced debate and when it is incorrect and is not substantiated by fact, it is particularly offensive and harms. Some of the examples of comments made by Mr Dunphy were:
BAI ruling
In their response to the BAI, RTÉ clarified that the comments were clearly Donphy’s, not the public service broadcaster’s, and that Dunphy’s opinion was challenged over the course of the programme.
The BAI agreed that he was challenged by john Bruton, the former Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach and by members of the audience.
In their ruling, the BAI said that “Dunphy’s use of language when referring to the last Government such as ’arrogant’, ‘cruel’, and ‘savage’ was typical of his provocative style” when contributing to a debate.
The forum was of the view that it is important to allow free speech in all debates providing this is moderated well by the presenter and balanced with views from other contributors and/or a mixed audience.
“The forum found that in the case of this programme, a range of contributions was evident.”
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Ah there are cabbages out there that complain about anything.
I just reported your comment. Cabbages are a vegetable. Vegetable is a derogatory term used to describe comatose people. On behalf of all the comatose people, I’m deeply offended
…..z……z……
Good man, the comatose of this country fight for their rights, they’re not going to take this lying down!
From the sound of it it was the government who complained.
@John Doyle:
Probably a liebour cabbage.
@Tweety McTweeter: CLM – Cabbages Lives Matter.
Tweety you are a cabbage
At long last the comatose have a voice and, er, the chance to stand up for themselves….
Fair play to dunphy for calling out this horrendous gov, telling it like it is. Gene kerrigan in the indo is really good too.
Nice to see Dunphy as government ministers for a few months…Like his friend Shane Ross….Have to actually make a difficult decision…..Easy to be populist from the sidelines
His former friend….. Dunphy is on record expressing his massive disappointment in Ross since he got the job. He feels badly let down by Ross who he had campaigned for.
John003 stop trying to show the most corrupt government since 1922 in a normal light. They are only in it for themselves. Where else would such mediocre bunch of failures earn 90 grand for doing feck all except filling their own pockets ?
Who made the complaint enda kenny? Maybe whoever made it wanted to hear the complete opposite: The Labour party will make a great comback and lead the country into the future The government has done everything to strengthen the state Rural Ireland is booming The irish media love sinn fein The government has ensured thst wealth is distributed evenly and fairly throughout the country. Yeah, sounds a bit off alright
Dunphys comments were a 100 % right ,whoever complained is living in an ivory castle .
They traded up from the ivory tower during the property boom.
Blue shirt complainant no doubt. Where’s there untruth in his comments….
Sounds like Joan Burton has an expensive phone
Here we go again! The broadcasting authority investigating the right to free speech!
The Fine Gael hasbara tuned in to Claire Byrne couldn’t believe they didn’t get the rub of the greens !
Probably Michelle Mulherin !!
Blueshirts need a hobby or maybe some hardship like the rest of us, no time to be whiging to the bai then
Dunphy was only telling the truth, what was the problem? Too many government snowflakes
Good man Dunphy!! Say what you want about him but he doesn’t take any s**t and speaks his mind and is more often then night correct!
Dunphy for Taoiseach!! :P
He never has anything positive to say, always complaining
Tire kicker is all that person is ..
While I,m not a fan of Dunphy I can see no problem with those 5 points he made.He has hit the nail on the head.
None of which is untrue. Great country.
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