15/03/2012

More Audience Members Complain About RTE Presidential Debate

Two more members of the audience for the Frontline presidential debate have expressed their unhappiness at the way the programme was handled.

One has said the questions the production staff wanted him to ask were very different to his own pre-prepared questions. The audience member however never got to ask his questions as the time ran out.

A second audience member, Donegal man Brian Flanagan, a supporter of Dana, has accused RTÉ of “outrageous” treatment for refusing to take a question from him before or during the programme.

These fresh complaints follow audience member Pat McGuirk claiming last week that production staff on the programme prepared a “hostile” question for him to ask front-runner Seán Gallagher. RTÉ denied the claim and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, which last week upheld a complaint by Mr Gallagher about the programme, declined to reopen its investigation.

It is unlikely the latest complaints will convince the authority to change its stance, as RTÉ is currently conducting a review of its programme-making practices.

(H)


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