Politicians unhurt by RTÉ’s ‘light touch’

IN recent months, from Miriam O’Callaghan’s woefully weak questioning of Brian Cowen and Brian Lenihan, to Pat Kenny giving Siptu’s Jack O’Connor a right going over on his Frontline programme, while obsequiously treating minister Mary Hanafin like visiting royalty the next, we might wonder who RTÉ thinks they’re kidding with the balance, tone and quality of much of its inept current affairs interviewing.

In a recent Irish Examiner column (April 2), Matt Cooper highlighted the lack of political accountability and named Bertie Ahern, Brian Cowen and Charlie McCreevy as those most responsible for the mess we’re in.

You’d never think it from the “light touch” interviews on RTÉ. Though some of the station’s star performers ask awkward questions, they have the strange ability to do so without making their Government guests feel even remotely uncomfortable. Puzzling.

RTÉ has interviewed Cowen and Lenihan on several occasions and it’s been a stroll each time for the “Brothers Grim”. Considering “where we are”, it might be expected they’d be on the ropes trying to defend themselves and the Government’s performance and record. But no, lightweight interviewing has ensured their deodorant weren’t tested.

Richard Duncliffe

Parkview

Church Hill

Passage West

Co Cork