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Journalists Ian Kehoe and Tom Lyons at the High Court last year attending a court case involving Denis O'Brien. Leah Farrell

Dáil: New bill to prevent radio and television stations from blacklisting other media outlets

Last month, Communicorp effectively banned journalists from The Currency appearing on the group’s stations.

A NEW BILL to prevent broadcasters from banning journalists from appearing on their airwaves because of their employer will be brought forward in Dáil Éireann in the next two weeks. 

The bill has been proposed by Sinn Féin TD and party spokesperson for communications David Cullinane. 

Last month, media company Communicorp wrote to its staff to ask them not to invite journalists from news website The Currency onto any of the group’s stations.

Communicorp owns radio stations such as Today FM, Newstalk and Spin 1038. 

The proposed bill would amend the 2009 Broadcast Act to make it a breach of contract for a broadcaster to ban a member of the National Union of Journalists from its media because of their occupation, employer, company or employment status. 

Cullinane told TheJournal.ie that most people were “outraged” by the fact that journalists could be stopped from appearing on broadcasting organisations due to their employer. 

“We felt it was important to ensure broadcasters could not do that anymore,” Cullinane said. 

The TD added that there should be more fairness and impartiality to ensure journalists are being treated the same regardless of where they work.

The bill will be brought forward by Cullinane in the Dáil in around two weeks, with the exact date to be confirmed soon. 

“I can’t see any reason why they won’t be supportive of this,” Cullinane said of other TDs and political parties. 

“A blanket ban in any situation is never good,” he said. “There is a responsibility on broadcasters under the Broadcasting Act to behave responsibly… The only way to prevent this from happening again is to underpin it in legislation.” 

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland said it would not be intervening in the situation with The Currency and Communicorp. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said last month that he does not believe anyone should be banned from TV, radio or a publication based on their employer.

Earlier this year, Denis O’Brien, the owner of Communicorp, lost his legal case against the Sunday Business Post where the businessman claimed to have been defamed in articles published by the paper in 2015. Ian Kehoe, now editor of The Currency, was editor of the Sunday Business Post when the articles were published. 

A similar effective ban was issued to journalists from The Irish Times two years ago when the CEO of Communicorp wrote to staff to tell them journalists from the publication would not be appearing on any of the group’s stations after Irish Times columnist Fintan O’Toole criticised gender balance at the broadcaster. 

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    Mute Keniby
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    Oct 15th 2019, 6:20 AM

    You made a mistake towards the end of the article, it should read “Denis O’Brien, owner of Communicorp and Fine Gael,” (comment deleted in 5…4…)

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    Mute Thomas Devlin
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    Oct 15th 2019, 7:04 AM

    @Keniby: any truth in the story that Dennis had a pet poodle he called Enda?

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    Mute Seymour business
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    Oct 15th 2019, 6:51 AM

    What’s really disappointing is the deafening silence from the the senior presenters on newstalk and today fm. Cooper yeats Kelly and moncrief.

    135
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    Mute aidan mccormack
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    Oct 15th 2019, 7:19 AM

    @Seymour business: yes men the lot of them. They may seem like they’re independent but they realise how the game works. Don’t but the hand that feeds you.

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    Mute Damian Faulkner
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    Oct 15th 2019, 8:12 AM

    It’s getting harder to listen to free speech.

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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    Oct 15th 2019, 8:22 AM

    Even if passed FG will pull it’s usual stunt and ignore democracy.

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    Mute Gus Sheridan
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    Oct 15th 2019, 9:47 AM

    @Dave Doyle: Maltese Donnie won’t like it.

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    Mute Means of escape
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    Oct 15th 2019, 7:13 AM

    The constant attempts at gagging and suffocating discourse and believing one will be victorious each time is breathtakingly arrogant

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    Mute Liam Mernagh
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    Oct 15th 2019, 8:32 AM

    All broadcasters are entitled to decide their own communications policy and the public will be aware of the leanings of those companies. It’s a similar situation to the principles that exist in the print media and it’s a move toward censorship when laws are introduced telling broadcasters who they must invite on to their stations.
    Keep the restrictions on broadcasters to the minimum, a free press is vital to democracy.

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    Mute Carm(Orange Vampire)
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    Oct 15th 2019, 6:14 AM

    What a waste of time.

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    Mute tom forde
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    Oct 15th 2019, 10:01 AM

    Funny how the people who shout loudest about a free and independent press and how important it is are now the quietest.

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    Mute TamuMassif2019
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    Oct 15th 2019, 3:54 PM

    @tom forde: And not a word about Assange and him being in jail after his sentence is finished and he will be still in solitary confinement until he is extradited to the US next year…

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    Mute Frank Lloyd wright
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    Oct 15th 2019, 9:30 AM

    Why is this not a bigger issue? Where is the uproar from Fintan o toole and Una Mullaly, Censorship is alive and well, however the journalists aren’t brave enough to speak truth to power. Shame on them

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    Mute Samhain Healy-Rae-Nua
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    Oct 15th 2019, 1:42 PM

    @Frank Lloyd wright: Eh… the ones who did got blacklisted. Do keep up!

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    Mute Mike McGann
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    Oct 15th 2019, 8:10 AM

    Maybe we can get Gerry Thornley BACK ON RUGBY ON OFF THE BALL PLEASE MR O BRIEN???

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    Mute padr4
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    Oct 15th 2019, 12:58 PM

    if this is to be enacted we also need a provision outlawing the blacklisting and boycotting of elements in the media of other media they don`t agree with it.

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