Irish Seek Repeal Of Political Ad Ban

Ireland's broadcasters have called for the removal on the ban on paid political advertising on radio and television saying that it was open to challenge in the European Courts.

The Independent Broadcasters of Ireland (IBI) said there was strong legal case at European level against Ireland's current ban in the context of freedom of expression.

The current ban on paid political advertising would be a potential money spinner for broadcasters and currently applied not just to political parties and election candidates but also to organizations, such as trade unions, promoting issues, which are considered to be of a political nature.

Addressing more than 100 delegates at the IBI's third Annual Conference today, IBI Chairman Willie O'Reilly said: "The current law is outmoded and inappropriate and it is questionable as to whether it is robust enough to withstand a legal challenge in the European Court.

"The simple fact is that the internet has made the ban irrelevant. The Obama campaign was won online and all the parties in the British election are committed to campaigning intensively online. It is ludicrous that a political party can advertise on a radio station’s website but cannot advertise on the radio itself."

Mr O'Reilly added that broadcasters were seeing political parties in Ireland use the internet and sites such as you tube to upload professional video content that is to all intents and purposes political advertising.

He said the arbitrary exclusion of some electronic media including radio, but not others, from paid political campaigning is nonsense and it is time for our laws to be brought up to date.

However, the Labour spokeswoman on broadcasting Liz McManus said in politics "money talks" and it would be "grossly unfair and dangerous to democracy if a situation existed where those with the deepest pockets can essentially buy elections".

She said that politicians would have to face up to the question even when it might be easier to protect the status quo.

Dr. Kevin Rafter, author of Political Advertising: The Regulatory Position & the Public View, agreed that the time had come to look again at the laws governing political broadcasting.

"It is timely to examine whether political advertising should be allowed on television and radio, especially with the rise of these type of adverts on the web and also doubts about the legality of the current outright ban in Ireland," he said.

(DW/BMcC)