Balance of coverage - Freedom of the Press

An independent and free media are cornerstones of a modern and open democracy.

Traditionaly on matters of referendum in the state, both sides of a debate are given equal time and funding on a question put to the people, as constitutional changes are different to politics as usual.
But a Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) conference who are meant to ensure this balance and fairness in state media have been told the rules are a "charter for every awkward squad".

The rules have now been changed. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

The BCI are meant to be an independent statutory organisation responsible for a number of key areas of activity with regard to television and radio services in Ireland.
Part of that is to ensure fair and balanced poltical coverage - for that reason this decision is unacceptable.

The constitution, the contract between the elected and the electorate, and referenda on that contract are the cornerstone of our democracy.
Any changes to the constitution must be debated openly and fairly.

Just because the result is not to a Governments liking does not them the right to suppress debate and dissent.
Part of democracy is that the Government must listen to dissenting voices who do not promote violence or hatred.
Reduction or restriction on airtime by the states broadcaster is supresson of debate.

Dont forget the 1948 European councils declaration of human rights included article 10, that Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority

In Ireland the state through a licence fee partially covers the cost of our public broadcaster RTE.
Perhaps it is a question of 'He who pays the piper calls the tune'

Broadcasters are no longer required to allocate exactly the same amount of time to both the Yes and No campaign when it comes to editorial coverage.
It now appears each political party will be given equal time.

Considering the fact that a great deal of opposition comes from groups such as PANA and the Peoples Alliance who are not in political parties, this will skew coverage.

The only parties that oppose Lisbon are Sinn Fein and a independents.

The Greens have sacrificed their morals and independence in a desperate bid for political survival.
I find this very disheartning, but with Andrew Byrne on the executive, it seems the party has changed.
Despite their traditionally strong stance on non-alliance and workers rights the current Greens elected or appointed to the Dail and Senate put their personal political survival before the grass roots of the party and the good of the Nation.

Our reminants of Civil War politics, a discredited and unpopular Fianna Fail and an uninspiring Fianna Gael - tweedle dum and tweedle dumber, or two cheeks of the same arse - are also backing this re-run of the same referendum with the meaningless garuantees given by Brussels.

Having lost the debate on the treaty the Yes side now are creating a skewed pitch so they can make unfounded, misleading and alarmist claims about a No vote being a vote for withdrawal from the EU or withdrawal from the Eurozone.

But it is an example of media manipulation by the Government which disturbs me.
We have seen examples of this before, and discussed them on this blog.

We have seen how disproportionate coverage of the idiot Justin Barrett was used to smear the No campaign in the second Nice Treaty.
In the first Lisbon Treaty Declan Ganley had unproven allegations over funding thrown in his direction, however, if you throw enough shit at a wall - some will stick, regardless of the truth.
Similar questions about Andrew Brne in CIPA were never really explored.

There is no official public funding for groups in a referendum campaign, although questions remain about Generation Yes,CIPA, Ireland for Europe and the IIEA.
Lack of funding is a severe disadvantage for less affluent groups.

To balance this, airtime on public stations has normally been split evenly between both sides of the argument, which helps groups with low funds which wouldn’t be able to buy a great amount of airtime.

In past referenda this protocal was followed, RTE took great care to give both camps the equal amount of airtime, but it was often perceived by observers that members of the Lisbon No-Camp were treated with less respect by the hosts than the representatives of the Yes-Side.

The Questions and Answers program was a great platform for debate, but this is not scheduled prior to the Lisbon II vote.
This is hardly surprising when Dr. Paul Anthony McDermott, probably the country's most eminent constitutional-law expert, said on Q&A that the 'assurances' gotten by Cowen were worthless

McDermott on assurances when they were 'leaked'- June 15 2009
http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0615/qan...63057,null,230
Strangely in the show notes he is not listed being on the panel for the epsiode, hence the RTE google application search does not find it.

Also worth seeing McDermott on a second referendum - November 17 2008
http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1117/qanda_av.html?2450381,null,230

The budget of the Referendum Commission is public, and Government spending on the campaign should be monitored by the press.
However, editorial policy in the Irish Times and Independent are pro Lisbon.

The use of taxpayers’ money for the Yes campaign by the government in Lisbon 1 was unfair as the No side didn’t have access to public funds.
We will look more at funding and media manipulation in the near future


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Blair, Bibles and Bullets - Bollox to that

In probably the worst kept secret in the EU, Tony Blair is being promoted for President of the European Union. Today’s UK independent has an article on it

There is, of course, no official list of contenders for a new Euro-job which will only exist if the Lisbon treaty is fully approved and ratified by all EU countries, including Ireland in October 09.

But Mrs. Kinnock, visiting the European Parliament in Strasbourg, made clear the UK Government would be pushing him as the man to run Europe for up to five years under new treaty arrangements.

He has also received Gordon Browns endorsement as President.
What galls me is the arrogance of these people, assuming the position will exist.
Until the Irish will do what their told to, and vote yes, this is carts before horses.
This unelected post is still a new factor - and sorry, being selected is not being elected, I don’t vote for county councilors to pick my TDs.
Mr. Blair has been endorsed by Gordon Brown, and was previously supported by Sarkozy. He is also very close to Berliosconi. I for one do not like the idea of Mr. Blair acting in any capacity, titular or executive, as head of the EU.

This is a man who led his country to war on a lie, causing tens of thousands of deaths.

A man delayed a ceasefire causing slaughter of the civilian population of the Gaza strip .

A man who left the UKs labour party mired in sleaze, not least the halting of a corruption inquiry into the sale of fighter jets to a totalitarian regime.

I believe that faith is a personal issue, but I get very nervous when leaders make life and death decisions based on their personal consultations with God.

Apparently Blair believed strongly at the time, that intervention in Kosovo, Sierra Leone – Iraq too – were all part of the Christian battle

On departure from No. 10 Downing Street, Tony became a Catholic in 2007.
He then decided - as always- the system was wrong and he had been sent to right it, and argued that it is time for a church he has just joined to "rethink" its views.

His new found religious fervour is expanding, he has set up the Tony Blair Faith Foundation!

Just about every public utterance he makes is now about “faith”.

The London Evening Standard reported that: “When Blair met Barack Obama at the annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, where the former PM was a principal speaker, Tony insisted that the President should kneel and pray with him before they talked.”

In the speech, Blair made 31 references to God.
In my opinion we are looking at a messianic complex.

With regards to the still to be confirmed EU Presidency, one EU official said: "The difficulty is that no one has come up with a proper job description. People say the exact nature of the job will be shaped by whoever is appointed." [note - not 'elected' - so much for democracy]

Bear in mind a comment from another MP in the UK - William Hague (Con) the shadow Foreign Secretary, said the former prime minister should be let "nowhere near the job".
He said: "The creation of a new EU President could be enormously damaging for Europe.
Any holder is likely to try to centralise power for themselves in Brussels and dominate national foreign policies. In the hands of an operator as ambitious as Tony Blair, that is a near certainty."
In earlier postings I have written about this, the danger of centralisation of power, with which we have seen Blair at his worst, surrounding himself with yes men and women.

Those who disagreed with him were driven out, particularly Jack Straw on the insistence of the Bush Administration.

To me the most cynical move was dealing with a threat to his position and removing Mo Mowlam as Northern Ireland secretary at a very delicate time in the Peace Process, as her popularity and more traditional Labour values made her a potential rival.
He moved her to a move to the relatively lowly position of Cabinet Office Minister. Mowlam had previously denounced the post as "Minister for the Today program", and resented being appointed to it.

She was replaced by a man who epitomises corruption in Europe and the UK.

Lord Madelson has resigned twice over corruption and abuse of power - but his slavish dedication to Blair has ensured survival and success, a credit to the clientism of Mr. Blair

Blair has systematically dismantled Britain’s civil rights as shown in the must see, excellent documentary on youtube- Taking Liberties

Also, in this vein it is also worth watching Naomi Klein's documentary "End of America"

My greatest fear is that this type of draconian legislation, justified by the threat of terrorism, will be introduced on a pan european basis.

Dont say it cant happen - because it has already and could happen again.

If there is one reason to vote No - its No to Blair, and only the Irish have the God given right and not Blair driven fight to do this

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