Consumer watchdog breached broadcasting laws

THE new National Consumer Agency (NCA) breached broadcasting laws by running a radio advertisement on below-cost selling which tried to influence public opinion.

The Broadcasting Complaints Commission (BCC) announced yesterday that it had upheld a complaint submitted by the independent grocers organisation, RGDATA, about the content of an ad for the NCA which was broadcast on both RTÉ Radio 1 and Today FM last July.

RGDATA director general Tara Buckley claimed the ad, which invited consumers to make submissions for proposed changes to the Groceries Order, was one-sided, misleading and factually incorrect.

She also objected on the basis that the material was concerned with the formation and making of Government policy and legislation, which is prohibited by the Broadcasting Act 2001.

Today FM acknowledged that it had broadcast the ad in error once it realised the nature of its content.

However, RTÉ denied that the wording of the ad was either misleading or factually incorrect. The station also argued that the commercial did not argue either in favour or against the retention or removal of the Groceries Order.

However, the BCC said broadcasting legislation stated that no advertisement should be broadcast which was directed towards any religious or political end.

“Throughout the advertisement the NCA was promoting its position on the Grocery Order. The agency was endeavouring to influence public opinion on the issue,” the BCC ruled.

Meanwhile, the BCC dismissed a complaint by the owner of the failed Irish Press newspapers, Eamon de Valera, against an edition of the Hidden History series on RTÉ television broadcast last summer on the publishing group of companies.

Dr de Valera claimed the programme was a deliberate exercise to attack him, his father, Vivion, and his grandfather - the former Taoiseach and president, Eamon de Valera. He accused RTÉ of extreme bias for using a selective presentation of facts about the Press group of newspapers.

However, RTÉ argued that the documentary was fair, accurate and thoroughly researched. It also noted that Dr de Valera had declined two invitations to take part in the programme.

The BCC also upheld complaints against the Backbeat programme on Anna Livia FM and the Breakfast with Breda Ryan show on Tipperary Mid-West Community Radio for breaches of privacy.