The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) tonight said it has not received any direct evidence that would cause it to review its decision to uphold complaints made to it about the infamous presidential debate on RTÉ's Frontline programme.
A meeting of the authority's compliance committee earlier today considered allegations that the programme makers had influenced an audience member in respect of the question asked during the show, which was broadcast in October.
However, it said that it would consider the matter further if any direct evidence were to emerge.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil earlier today that objectivity from RTÉ was vital “in regard to public life in Ireland, life in general in Ireland and in regard to our democratic institutions”.
He was responding during leaders' questions to Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin who asked if he was satisfied that the actions being taken to deal with what Mr Kenny called the "now infamous tweet" broadcast on the RTÉ Frontline presidential debate was sufficient.
“I hope it will,” Mr Kenny said. “I hope it can be. I share the view that the national broadcaster be absolutely impartial, absolutely fair, absolutely objective in the carrying out of its statutory functions.”
The Taoiseach said Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte updated the Cabinet this morning on the controversy and informed them of the receipt of a letter from former presidential candidate Seán Gallagher.
“In the case of a comment made by a member of the audience in that debate there appears to be an allegation that RTÉ in some way attempted to gun down Mr Gallagher,” he said.
He said Mr Rabbitte replied to Mr Gallagher telling him that if new evidence emerged impinging on findings made in relation to the complaint that the broadcasting authority through their compliance committee “would ensure an expeditious dealing” with the issue.
Mr Rabbitte informed the Cabinet he forwarded Mr Gallagher’s letter to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, he added.
Mr Martin said there were clear differences in Cabinet when Mr Varadkar said yesterday that RTÉ has bias towards centre left parties and liberal views and said there should be a review of the organisation.
“Mr Rabbitte seems to be confused perhaps understandably about what might sound liberal and leftwing to Leo,” the Fianna Fáil leader said. “But he claimed that those who object to what happened are trying to create an Irish Fox News, which is a bit of a bizarre assertion.”
