Charities face ad constraints, warns Trócaire
There was a danger groups campaigning for social justice would be effected by legislation, which had deemed the charity’s commercial for gender equality too political.
The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) pulled the 30-second advertisement from more than 20 radio stations and television stations this week. The move followed concern raised by Today FM. It has cost Trócaire thousands of euro in cancellation fees.
The BCI last night said: “The text of the advert calls upon people to support a Lenten campaign that has as one of its stated purposes, to call upon the Government to produce a National Action Plan and seeks public signatures for a petition in this regard. Therefore the campaign has a political objective as contemplated under the legislation.”
Trócaire has now agreed to change the advertisement by removing two words. The particular script change will be “Support Trócaire to help end gender inequality” as opposed to the original “Support Trócaire’s Lenten Campaign to help end gender inequality”.
The original will still be aired on RTÉ, who are independent of BCI. The BCI last night added: “It is the BCI’s view that the campaign, as described by Trócaire itself, has as one of its key objectives the procurement of changes in government policy or decisions so as to prioritise, implement or influence governmental action. The rationale for the decision to accept the revised script is that it focuses on Trócaire’s social, humanitarian and fundraising agenda which does not present any conflict with the prohibition on political advertising.”
The charity stated: “There is a danger that Trócaire and other organisations that advocate and campaign on issues of social justice will find their ability to do this work further constrained by the legislation in the future. Trócaire believes a review of this legislation is urgently required.”
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