Ray D’Arcy ‘didn’t breach broadcast code’ by welcoming marriage equality vote

The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland has found that RTÉ broadcaster Ray D’Arcy did not breach its code of fairness, objectivity, and impartiality when he welcomed the passing of the marriage equality referendum on-air last summer.

The listener’s objection to Mr D’Arcy’s comments on RTÉ Radio 1 on May 25 was one of seven complaints received by the authority since May that have subsequently been rejected by the body. Three of the complaints arose from the Ray D’Arcy Show.

In its latest report the BAI said that the complainant stated that “ironically, by celebrating inclusion the presenter was excluding approximately 40% of the electorate” when Mr D’Arcy described the passing of the referendum as an historic occasion.