BAI seeks register of presenters’ interests

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is to ask the Government to bring in legislation to facilitate the establishment of a register of the financial interests of TV and radio presenters.

The BAI has excluded the proposed register of interests from a new code on fairness and objectivity in the presentation of news and current affairs as a result of concerns raised by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner.

The BAI said it was not proceeding with its original plans to introduce such a register, whereby individuals with an editorial role in news and current affairs on television and radio would be required to state financial or commercial relationships because of such concerns.