Patrick O'Donovan: 'I probably made a hames of what I was trying to say'

Patrick O'Donovan was called an 'absolute disgrace' for suggesting RTÉ’s fuel protests coverage was 'lopsided'

Patrick O’Donovan told a number of local radio stations on Monday that he would ask Coimisiún na Meán to investigate whether coverage of the protests had been 'lopsided'. Picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Media minister Patrick O’Donovan has admitted he “probably made a hames of what” he was “trying to say” after he suggested media coverage of the fuel protests should be investigated.

Mr O’Donovan told a number of local radio stations on Monday that he would ask Coimisiún na Meán to investigate whether RTÉ’s coverage of the protests had been “lopsided”.

His comments sparked outrage, including in his own party, Fine Gael. Party leader and Tánaiste Simon Harris distanced himself from the comments and one member told the Irish Examiner that Mr O’Donovan was an “absolute disgrace” and an “embarrassment”.

Labour leader Ivana Bacik, speaking in the Dáil, compared him to outgoing Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, saying: “Goodbye Viktor Orban, hello Patrick O’Donovan.”

Mr O'Donovan has since confirmed he would no longer be pursuing a review, but noted he "did not overstep the mark".

“I think what I did do is I probably made a hames of what I was trying to say, which is that it is very important in a democracy that everybody’s voice is heard,” Mr O’Donovan told RTÉ this Friday.

In hindsight, he said he would not have used the word “review”.

He explained: “The point I was making, and I would say I could have used a better formula of words, is that in a democracy it is so important all voices of all political arguments, of all different cohorts and all different discourses are heard.” 

Earlier this week, senior Government sources told the Irish Examiner that Mr O’Donovan was frustrated with some media broadcast coverage and that, privately, some people were agreeing with him but would not publicly back him.