Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to issue warning to Ray D’Arcy show over abortion coverage

It is the third time that complaints have been upheld in respect of coverage on D’Arcy’s programme of the topic of Irish law in respect of abortion.

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is to issue RTÉ with a warning over the coverage of the topic of abortion on the Ray D’Arcy show on Radio One. The BAI announced on Wednesday that they had upheld complaints relating to an interview that D’Arcy conducted with Mrs. and Mr. Gaye and Gerry Edwards on the same day that the United National Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) made critical findings in respect of Irish law on abortion. The interview with Mr. and Mrs. Edwards focused on their experience of the termination of a pregnancy, where a fatal foetal abnormality was present, and their views on the UNHRC findings. Detailing the most recent broadcasting complaints decisions, taken at a BAI meeting in November, the BAI revealed that a complaint was made about the interview, saying that it was a personal story with a political campaigning message tagged on. The complainant stated that any opposing viewpoint on the issue was treated in a cursory manner and that it was unfair for the presenter to fail to point out that Mr. and Mrs. Edwards were part of a campaigning group, Terminations for Medical Reasons. RTÉ, for their part, responded to the complainant saying that the interview was a piece reacting to a story of the day, which was the UN Human Rights Committee ruling on fatal foetal abnormalities. Furthermore, RTÉ refuted the allegation in the complaint that opposition to the UN ruling and its support was “cursory,” stating that, in fact, in his introduction the presenter quoted from the submission on behalf of the Irish State to the UNHRC, which can be read in full in the BAI report here. Having considered all of the information available to them, the BAI committee came to the conclusion that the broadcast did not comply with the fairness, objectivity and impartiality requirements of the Broadcasting Act 2009. Accordingly, the complaint was upheld. As a result, the Ray D’Arcy show will be issued with a warning and if the matter is not remedied to the BAI’s satisfaction, the matter may ultimately result in the Compliance Committee determining that an investigation is warranted and the potential application of formal sanctions.