Broadcast watchdog backs radio election gag

THE under-fire broadcasting watchdog ruled yesterday that a radio station was right not to refer to Fine Gael in its coverage of a consumer affairs story.

On Thursday, the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) controversially gagged independent radio stations from covering stories that might influence the outcome of the election, following a complaint from Fianna Fáil. That resulted in accusations it had bowed to pressure from the party.

Yet when Fine Gael queried yesterday whether Dublin local radio station FM 104 was correct to not mention the party by name when it reported upon a pint price survey, the BCI said this was a correct position for the station to adopt.