RTÉ posts on Michael D Higgins 'better kept to the canteen over cups of coffee', minister says

The national broadcaster was widely criticised in November regarding videos shared lamenting the departure of former president Michael D Higgins from Áras an Uachtaráin

RTÉ One X account posted a video of Michael D Higgins’ entering Catherine Connolly’s inauguration in Dublin Castle, with the caption reading: 'We’re not crying, you are.' It also contained two smiling emojis with tears in their eyes. Picture: Paul Faith / AFP via Getty Images

Media minister Patrick O'Donovan has suggested "personal comments" posted on RTÉ’s social media pages would be "better kept to the canteen over cups of coffee".

It follows criticism of the national broadcaster in November regarding videos shared lamenting the departure of former president Michael D Higgins from Áras an Uachtaráin.

This included a post on social media websites with a video of Mr Higgins’ entering Catherine Connolly’s inauguration in Dublin Castle.

The caption on the RTÉ One X account read: “We’re not crying, you are." It also contained two smiling emojis with tears in their eyes.

Text written on the video included the same two emojis and the message, “bualadh bos for Michael D Higgins”.

Comments posted under the video questioned the impartiality of the post.

When asked by the Irish Examiner if he believed captions like this were suitable for the national broadcaster to share on its social media pages, Mr O’Donovan said personal opinions should be kept for personal social media pages.

“I think the national broadcaster has a role to do in reflecting the mood of the people,” the media minister said.

“But certainly, I think comments which could be perceived as being personal in respect of individual politicians, whether RTÉ believe they're good, bad, or indifferent, are probably better kept to the RTÉ canteen over cups of coffee, rather than issued as way of commentariat.

“I'm sure there are some people in the organisation [who] might have particular views with regard to the incumbent minister [for media].

“They might not necessarily be the type of views that I'd like to read off of Twitter.

“I think sometimes personal views with regard to how people feel people are carrying out their duties on a personal basis in politics might just be better kept to personal platforms.”

A spokesperson for RTÉ said the posts were on social media accounts linked to RTÉ One.

“The posts are consistent with RTÉ One’s broad remit on social media to present entertaining and engaging content, while promoting the wide breadth of content on the service,” he said.

“The RTÉ One accounts are distinct and separate from RTÉ’s news and other service accounts.”

The RTÉ One TikTok video also had Taylor Swift's song Bigger Than the Whole Sky playing over it.