Foulmouths on RTÉ: viewer vigilance counts

IN his letter headlined ‘RTÉ gives fee rein to foulmouths’ (Irish Examiner, November 27), Maurice Fitzgerald observes how the national broadcaster “seems to call the shots on when the rules (ie, obscenity, indecency, etc) can be broken”.

He mentions Tommy Tiernan and Des Bishop, but Brendan O’Carroll contributes, too.

RTÉ seems to be guided in each instance by the volume of complaints received from the audience. Internal norms are at best inadequate, at worst absent altogether. The station apparently only takes notice if enough complainants can make their voices heard. Some self-criticism and self-censorship are vital. Vigilance counts.