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RTÉ HAS SAID it “has no current plans to pause its use of Twitter” in the wake of policy changes by the company with regard to media organisations that receive government funding.
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Several media organisations including the USA’s National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), Canadian public broadcaster CBC, and Swedish public radio station Sveriges Radio, have all announced in recent days that they would no longer be posting on Twitter.
Irish state broadcaster RTÉ now has a note on its Twitter page marking it as ‘Publicly-funded media’.
According to Twitter, “publicly-funded media refers to media organisations that receive funding from license fees, individual contributions, public financing, and commercial financing”.
NPR, PBS and the CBC have been labelled as ‘Government-funded media’. Twitter had originally labelled these accounts ‘State-affiliated media,’ the same label that is used for state-controlled media organisations, such as China Xinhua News.
In a statement yesterday, a spokesperson for CBC said: “Twitter can be a powerful tool for our journalists to communicate with Canadians, but it undermines the accuracy and professionalism of the work they do to allow our independence to be falsely described in this way.”
NPR have characterised the label as “inaccurate and misleading, given that NPR is a private, nonprofit company with editorial independence”. Similarly, a representative for PBS said said the broadcaster receives more funding from members of the public and from philanthropic organisations than it does from the government.
Twitter pages operated by the BBC had also originally been labelled as ‘Government-funded media’ until the organisation corrected the company.
“The BBC is, and always has been, independent. We are funded by the British public through the licence fee,” noted the broadcaster in a statement disputing Twitter’s characterisation. The label has since been changed to ‘Publicly-funded media’, the same designation as RTÉ.
In a statement made to The Journal today, an RTÉ spokesperson confirmed that there were no current plans for the organisation to halt its Twitter operations, and did not comment more generally on the policy change.
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FF’s sake!
I’m guessing that sounded a lot funnier in your head? Nice try though.
She knocked on my door during the marriage ref, she seems very ambitious…
There must be some serious bad news in store for Fianna Fail – jumping ship or polls disastrous in Dublin – Endatown as we call it down the West.
watch FF – more always going on behind the scenes than we hear for weeks …
Sounds juicy………..tell us more. Omit no detail!!!!!
E.S.B. signed a “sweet deal ” with what are looking an increasingly illegal regime at the levers of the State is one way to look at it – what with the evidence and all
Maybe Averil will remember the more social side of Fianna Fail years ago when they were paid tax to put pipes in the road and then the rain and gravity and water pressure would do the rest !
Who have Fianna Fail ?
They have no-one to lead them – she is right all that was left after the last election was Martin and O’Cuiv – The rest were nodding donkeys if you think about it .
Nodded to a figure out of David “rich enough to get into the United States” Drumm’s arse and call it economics !
O’Cuiv is in awful trouble in the City I’d say after he was found to have represented the Body in the Fridge guy …or queried about him getting into an open Prison !
Surely a bit of Dev coming out there – I think we finished with Dev when we voted YES last Friday !
Who would morn the losing of Fianna Fail ?- There would be parties from Manchester to New York to Vancouver to Bondi Beach so there would !
Enda isn’t pushing the Tuam Inquiry – makes it look more and more like the Occult with the delay – that definitely suits Fianna Fail – because if it is as bad as the fringes are saying then Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are in awful trouble – awful awful; trouble ….
It is of course “conspiracy theory ” at this stage – but why the delay ?
We know the children are dead – they deserve a decent burial if nothing – the forensics should be long over and be time for interring….I may be wrong here – but delays from something so old could indeed be as dark as it gets !
The Bishops haven’t been touched but last Friday proved they are now a spent political Force – less cover now from the younger politicians.
Jenni, ever look at the bigger picture and think shoot my life is so pathetic that I spend a lot of my time attacking strangers for having small pieces of humour on a boards forum like a sloth. Thumbs up. Happy to provide that helicopter view whenever.
Why does she not resign her Senad seat which she won as a F.F. candidate. It must be all about the money money money……
I’d say the Senator is unhappy that the planned media attention was diverted on the death of Bill O Herlihy.. interesting in the timing of her departure – just after the referendum and the press looking for a story. If she believed this about he party why did she seek nomination a mere month ago.. this was a planned and contrived event managed in the background by hubby… she also figured why go as a member of FF and be tarnished when i get wash my hands (even though she has been a member of the party for the last decade). Now of course she will take ‘time out’ and ‘reflect’ (not sure if i’m running for election) – before saying the people of Dublin have asked her to stand… its politics. Its about power and getting elected, standing for whatever people will fall for.
Ah but hold on a minute – A Fianna Fáil Leader like Mehole wouldn’t tell a porky – Ah hold on , I must check out that statement with History – 1 Cowan, 2 Bertie, 3 Haughey, 4 Lynch ,etc etc etc etc !!!!
Sorry – It’s totally trueeee !
Gabbi
At last rhetoric that makes some sort of sense comrade Gabbi ☺
FF are still a toxic entity and the loss of Power is only a step closer to a death by a 1000 cuts. The worst thing FF could have done was put Mehole as leader…someone associated with the $h1t storm brought on us by FF. Christ…any joined up thinking at all by FF??
This is great stuff all the same, Karma still stalks FF for the sins of leaders past.
She took a brave step and it was the right one. Micheal Martin is like a guy waiting at the bus stop waiting for a bus that never arrives.
He’s on RTE Six One now dodging the question and going on about some nobody called Jack Chambers, apparently we’re going to see a lot of him. He must be big.
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Does anyone care she has resigned?
It is funny Michele…..
Hermes don’t fret. Surely something will turn up soon to slate SF so DOB and Co can deflect from their little minions parties shenanigans all those years ago. Or well get told stop bringing up the past despite the Troubles etc on every FG/FF/Lab tongue whenever the chance arises
She went mental today.
Gabbi best comment yet. Fionan sheehan ‘independent’ newspaper’s is the most biased fine gaeler I know of. With john drennan gone I only buy the sindo for gene kerrigan but might stop now. Such a biased newspaper it’s a joke.
Btw Sindo sick to death of cherry picking incidents in the war in n.i. for ur reporting. If u wish to politicize n.i. politics here-do some interviews on both sides of the debate in n.i. nationalists the lot. Ur reporting is unprofessional.
I listened to his interview on RTE Radio 1 News and he did give a good account of himself. It’s pity that she was off air and unable to retort.
I’d say both have made good points and I’d say she is right in that a lot of the FF parliamentary party were fence sitters. I can image trying to get Dev Óg to canvas for gay marriage, I’d himself and Ronan Mullen would be of like minds.
But its worth pointing out what RTÉ’s anchor said – Micheal Martin *himself* had refused to be live on air at the same time as Averil Power.
He came across as fairly ruthless – so why wasn’t he clipping Niall Collins (FF Spokesperson on Equality) across the ear for not canvassing for a Referendum that the FF Ard Fhéis endorsed?
It’s also worth reminding people that – as Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs at the time – Micheal Martin’s signature is on the EU bailout.
One thing he does have is courage – to have been part of ahern and cowen’s cabinets and then pretend it never happened in the hope that it will go away – that takes some balls. Time is running out for a healthy alternative to FF/FG/Lab/SF politics before 2016
Look into my eye, not around the eyes..
Social issues and identity politics will move up the list of priorities for the next government. It keeps people occupied at minimal cost.
Proinsias – Which side are you on in this one , as a loyal Fianna Fáil Supporter ?
Or are you still in denial of being a Supporter ?
@pomtius FG were just as bad as FF for not canvassing for a YES vote on the door
I’d say there were only 5 FG TD’s out canvssing on the airwaves, 2 of them were gay, one the “leader” , the other head of referendum election
FG need to have a look at themselves, their TD’s were more worried about the upcoming general election
Winding down; her behaviour is unprofessional. I wouldn’t meet her either.
Micheal Martin visited a company I worked for in north cork during an expansion phase. He was very professional and listened to my concerns. Ps voted fg the last 3 times as I though ff had been in power enough. Tell u 1 thing though after kenny no way ill vote fg next time.
Simple question for Avril. Did you demand to be the only candidate in your constituency? All the rest is flobble.
Mr Martin is a Gent. Power is an arrogant piece of work. If she felt so strongly about the Gay Marriage ref then why wait until the results are in.
Power is nothing more than a snivelling political opportunist. Why didn’t she bring potential female candidates to the table if that was her concern?
@Martin:
FF’s Ard Fhéis endorsed the Referendum. Why was Averil one of the only (or actually, the only?) FF Oireachtas member out canvassing for it?
Also, its worth bearing in mind that that “Gent” was our Minister for Foreign Affairs at the time that Ireland took the €67.5 million bailout in November 2010. It was Micheal’s signature that signed it on Ireland’s behalf in Brussels that night.
She is the epitome of what is wrong with politics, and the fact that she is literally in bed with the media tells a lot about her character
@windingdown Yeah like he had a choice, your obviously a FG blue shirt. At least when FF were in Gov ordinary people of Ireland had jobs and were able to feed their kids. Not just the rich.
FF are a dead party walking or should I say limping. The people of Ireland will never forget how they behaved when in power (no pun intended), it doesen’t matter how many candidates they put up in Dublin Bay North because Dubliners as shown in the last GE don’t trust them, fact!
@Martin:
I’m not in any party. But as to your other point, when FF left Government in March 2011 the unemployment rate was over 14%.
Rose-tinted glasses much?
That’s the second time you have made that point about MM’s signature and second time you’ve got it wrong. MM was out of the country during the bailout for very personal reasons. At least get your facts straight.
Yes the country was flying when FF were voted out in March 2011
Very true Winding. The fact that he was part of that government and still didn’t see the need to resign,shows how deluded and self-serving he is. Then again there is a large crowd waiting to get to the trough behind him!
Martin, if my dog was the leader of FF pre 08 then ordinary people would also have had jobs and been able to feed their family. They didn’t have a hard job when Ireland was receiving bucketloads of foreign investment. They only job they did have was to invest it wisely and make sound decisions for the future. Instead FF increased public spending by 48% between 00 – 03, cut income tax and let’s not forget the policies *they* introduced that aided the property bubble which has served us all so well. FF like to make *popular* decisions for votes, if my tax was cut right now I’d be delighted but if I had to pay twice as much in 5 years time I’d say F@%# THAT! FG are not always right but I would vote for a Party that makes unpopular decisions now to better me in the future rather than one that tells me what I want to hear and then leaves me up sh!¥s creek without a paddle 5 years on.
“You can have Blaney, but you won’t have Fianna Fáil”
Similarly you can have Power……
Fianna Fáil will be around for a long time long after Averil disappears into the ether I’m afraid…
Avril has a bit of fight in her, I believe her when she said they laughed at her, seems typical ff. I like her and I’d vote for her.
@Ken, the only way they’ll be around after she is gone is on old newsreels I’m afraid….
Winding down: Rubbish. fg backed the bailout too. With the threat from ecb-there was no other way was there even I don’t like it. U got a better idea? Do a greece on it? Get a run on BoI, AiB? Remember it was boi and aib there that night. Refuse to bailout and Bankrupt ireland a better idea? Does anyone think thru what they post here? Stop pretenting we had a choice. We didnt and still dont or else noonan-kenny would have taken it!
Rachel, wrong. Fg supported public spending salary increases. Now Unions want return to Tiger days salaries (though high salaries were maintained all thru recession-better cut home helps) and FG/Labour plan to do just that. Public sector pay is 33% higher than private sector excl. Gold plated pensions and is set to increase to secure Labour Votes.
I live in Dublin BN. I would consider voting for Power. I will not be voting for Sean Haughey. A nice man but a completely ineffective politician living off his father’s name.
Surviving somehow off the tawdry reputation and proceeds of the Godfather of all-grabbing, swindling gombeens!
Aylward in and Power out. Fianna Fail renewal. . . Lol
Not the same thing David, Aylward is in as a TD whereas Power is only a Senator.
Sen.Daly says “Fianna Fail’s message is resonating with people.”
What exactly is that message? Is it that they screwed up the country once and can’t wait for the chance to do it again?
Dalys talking through his hat. Despite winning the seat, last fridays vote for carlow/kilkenny was FFs worst ever performance in that constituency, and thats including the kicking they took in 2011.
Mark Daly cannot recognise that he himself has got shafted, for the Fianna Fáil Nomination, on two occasions already – Once by the O’Donoghues and more recently by Meholes ambition to have a female Candidate in the South of The Kerry Constituency !!!
He is an excellent Senator – but if he has ambitions, he is going nowhere, sticking patiently with Mehole – as he will surely be shafted too for Brian Crowleys seat , when he retires shortly ???
‘Fianna Fail message is resotating with the people’….like a flag resonates with the wind and blows either way.
There are several Fianna Fail TD’s in safe seats who didn’t commit themselves to support the referendum. They are the self serving people who look for power, but do nothing for the constituents when it comes their way.
Chris, rubbish. 37% of people did not support the referendum. We both know that loads of tds did not support it but only 6 out of 160 admitted it. Weakness. The referndum passed fair play but not everyone supported it especially in areas outside dublin where the no vote was avg 45% ish.
Farts can also resonate but that doesn’t necessarily make them less of an ill wind.
After being very critical of her on twitter and reading her time line her resignation comes as no surprise . It’s all about Avril and her career . Reminds me of Killian Forde …. Both from Bayside … Maybe FF should count themselfs lucky?
Power is a big loss for FF. For a start, she was one of the certs for them to win a seat at the next GE in Dublin where they currently have no seats. Secondly, she ‘ a woman and the FF parliamentary party are distinctly lacking them.
As for her calling out of most of her colleagues for not canvassing for the SSM referendum, she’s spot on. What else would you expect from a shower of self serving leaches
A donkey with a FF badge will win in that 5 seater, the problem power had was she wanted to be the only donkey. So back to the mart she’ll go.
Averil Power has, however unwittingly, exposed the charade of political consensus around the same sex marriage referendum. Not that it matters now but if I were a member of the LGBT community I’d be annoyed at how Fianna Fail obviously used that community for political gain. Any future FF commitments to advancing gay rights will now ring completely hollow.
How many more rights do they need?
Right to piss off and stop annoying every one about the rights they have or don’t have
Personally I think that Michael Martin was one of the strongest in the debates leading up to the referendum, the party had chosen to back the Yes vote at the Ard Fheis, the leadership were actively campaigning so if it was individual members, as Averil has suggested, who were unhappy with the party decision maybe it is them that the issue is with rather than the party as a whole?!
Well it depends – will FG/LAB remove the religious exemption from employment equality laws by the next election?
Repeal Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act in the interests of legal equality.
Religion should not be treated as a legal excuse for civil discrimination.
Indeed. Teachers paid by the tax payer are absolutely entitled to all the protections any other public service worker gets.
Sounds like a worried self important princess throwing her toys out of the pram.
Sounds like she’s throwing toys out of pram but she’s apparently correct about the lack of canvassing by FF politicians for marriage equality. I can also believe they laughed at her suggestion to canvass for a Yes.
Let’s help labour and FG with a socially divisive issue? no wonder they laughed.Many SF and FG TDs went into hiding too. The majority don’t really care and canvassing for SSM won’t win you a seat if everyone is at it but it might lose you one.
Michael Martin was at the top table with his FF buddies when they bankrupted this country with their policies. How can he be still leader of that party ?
He’s the caretaker. Underlings happy for him to take the flak for the moment. When there is a hint of them getting power again,he’ll be given the heave-ho!
I think she is on a high after the referendum This is am impulsive move will regret or in the morning Learn from the Sinn Fein women don’t rebel
This is the sixth high profile rep to leave Fianna Fail in the last 2 years, all stating the same thing ” the party lacks vision, courage and leadership ”
Are they all wrong ?
Can’t help feeling that Bobby Aylward is the type of FFer best committed to the past and that April Power projected a better image of FF.
I am not a FF supporter and never would be!
Good old Averil. One of the non democratically elected members of the parliament. Hilarious stuff. She has no life experience outside of education and seems to think all that is required to legislate is being class rep in college. Oh and having the full backing of the Indo if you happen to be married to the editor. Off to lucinda with ya, and I wonder will that improve their media coverage…..
Headline is not very politically correct.
Shut up
The standard of some of the commentary on this site is, at times, a study in the evolution of man. Some have evolved, while others are still scaling the lower branches of the trees in the jungle!
The “coming out” or the “swinging”?
Renua bound Id say
“Fianna Fáils message is resonating with people”…?!?!? Ehhhhmmm… What message??? Confuzzled I be!
Have any of you ever worked with her? How is her leaving throwing the toys out of the pram?! We need more hardworking senators like Averil who fight for real issues that actually affect us. She could’ve kept quiet and went along with the facade, would’ve been an easier life rather than being
Totally honest regardless of the backlash she would inevitably recieve. Honesty is something that is lacking in the majority of our td’s, someone finally does the right thing and speaks the
truth and still gets stick for it. Do we want A pack of mindless sheep or people who will actually stand up, be courageous and tell the truth. I know which i’d prefer.
In a political party you need desipline look an Sinn Fein military style obedience Without that you have a bunch of independents
Niamh, well said!
Call Berlusconi
Let me see if I got this right – she’s p!ssed off because she missed out on the full effect of bandwagoning that the other parties achieved, and is annoyed because she wants to be the only candidate in a fairly large constituency, but her party wants to rune more than 1?
Here’s a thought – run on your own merits, experience, principles and history and let your constituency decide – no need to try stack the deck in your own favour.
between this nonsense and the continued coverage of SFs disgraceful treatment of an abuse victim its really makes you wonder does ireland have any credible opposition
That’s right keep FG in power, more Garda Stations shut down so more rural old people afraid to sleep, hospitals at breaking point again old people suffering, prisons like a ghetto where the lags are in charge, medical cards taken off sick people and given to rich oldies in Dalky, rich rich rich rich ARE GETTING RICHER. FF at least looked after the Ordinary people in Ireland. So shove your FG and Miss Power.
Looked after the ordinary people! Is that a joke? Tax breaks for ‘ordinary’ racehorse trainers and ‘ordinary’ property developers building unwanted houses in the arsehole of Leitrim more like!
I’m certainly no fan of FF but Michael Martin seems like a gentleman, although not blameless for what happened in 2008, he strikes me as a quite a different character to the ruthless Bertie & Charlie. Think he is probably spot on about her motives.
People used to say the same about Bertie after Haugheys corruption became common knowledge and we know how wrong that sentiment was. Other than bringing in the pub smoking ban I don’t see what he has going for him really. But then again when it comes to FF politicians he’s probably the best of a bad lot.
Shades of Lucinda Creighton’s personal and policy tensions with Enda Kenny although Senator Power is much more progressive and enlightened than Lucinda.
It would be a very bad strategic move for Senator Power to move to Renua.
Saucer of milk with a twist of lemon for Michael
What has Sean Haughey to offer at all?
I agree he’s useless at local level in my opinion
Political stunt no?????
I’d have more respect if you resigned from your post completely . What’s the point in leaving the party but remaining on ! ! ! Why now ? Maximum exposure . Sometimes Politicians believe the people can’t see through someone only interested in being elected next year no matter what party . . Just Sayin !
Ching ching. Pity seanad wasn’t gotten rid of. The one good idea from kenny/fg dare I say :))
What a dope…. Did it ever occur to her that people weren’t campaigning for a YES vote in FF cos they didn’t believe it was the right option
But if your party have agreed to support something then it is your duty to campaign for it. If you want to individually pick and choose what to support and what not to support then you should be running as an independent candidate.
I mean TD’s not ordinary members of the party.
did not like bobby, first thing he said to me and my friends was “Are you constituents” didnt seem to be really bothered either…Met micheál martin aswell same night in reddys bar, I can see why hes the leader of Fianna Fail even if I don’t agree with some of the policies.
Martin would want to be careful, FF could replace SF as the target of all the vitriol launched by the Indo across multiple pages on a daily basis. Power could easily use her influence as the editor is her husband.
Martin will be held personally responsible for all IRA activities pre 1926.
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What a scam!!
No thanks,i’ll stick to my scientology if you don’t mind.
Isn’t Bohemian Grove the place where wealthy and Influential people meet up once a year to partake in orgies and sacrifice babies at devil worship ceremonies. Sounds like great craic, pity I don’t have the connections to get an invite.
Ok will sell my principles and my soul,,, sign me up,,Take me away from these working class whingers and moaners
All the conspiracy theories do is hide the fact that the rich want to be greedy and see people as cash fodder, they joint together to make groups and own politicians but that is corruption. The world is suffering from poor civil awareness and greed with over consumerism. The E.U. and TTIP will use people to feed on like a parasite and people will let them, having secret societies theories just takes away from facts and makes you look weird.
If you are a member of a political party ,these are rules you follow ……..,you act like the part leader is a deity ……the leader can say no wrong or do no wrong ,,,,,,,You will follow the supreme leader without question ……..You will suspend any individualism ….. Should you get elected you will be told how to vote ,who to vote for ,what to vote for …………Should you lick enough of the leaders backside you could be picked as a minister ,,no matter how useless ,conniving or brain dead ,,,…..Yes been in party politics can be great for your bank balance because you now have your snout in the trough paid by the taxpayer ,………In my own area the only people canvassing for a Yes vote was Sinn Fein.not a person from any other parties ,,
I always thought she was a principled lady but I think she should now resign her Fianna Fail seat in the Senate.
Unelected and unelectable. Jumping ship in the hope she can get back on the gravy train
Farq me, I’m in!!
In this instance I agree with him…. The writing is on the wall of her and she knows it … Sour grapes me thinks ! …. And before I get all the red thumbs … No I’m not a member of FF …. Nor any political party
Unelected and unelectable and she knows it. Trying anything to get back on the gravy train
He has less character than Kenny, so we are all doomed.
She was finished in politics after the first episode of ‘house of cards’
Good luck
Boo hoo
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