'Seeking to erode that trust': Limerick minister called out over 'skewed' media comments

LIMERICK Minister for Media, Patrick O'Donovan has dialled back his comment that he will call for an investigation from Coimisiún na Meán into what he believes was "skewed" reporting on the fuel protests from RTÉ News and other broadcasters.  

Tánaiste Simon Harris said that there is no need for any sort of "formal review" into media coverage of the recent fuel protests, on Tuesday of this week.  

“That’s something Coimisiún na Meán will have to look at,” Mr O'Donovan said of fuel protest coverage when speaking on the Limerick Today radio show on Live 95 earlier this week. 

“We heard a lot of lopsided political views,” Mr O’Donovan claimed. During the interview with presenter Joe Nash, the minister outlined his unhappiness that voices on the side of the protesters appeared to be heard more in the broadcast media than those on the other side of the dispute.  

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Mr Harris said he is "a big supporter of freedom of the media, freedom of the press, as is the Government, as is the minister".

Minister O'Donovan has since met with Coimisiún na Meán and he is no longer seeking a review of media coverage of fuel protests, despite his earlier comments.

Limerick’s Labour TD, Conor Sheehan weighed in on Mr O’Donovan’s comments via Instagram, stating: “The fact of the matter is RTÉ is a public service broadcaster. It’s not a state broadcaster. It’s not for government to determine who and what they should cover”. 

“At a time when trust in democracy and trust in journalism is so low, the minister for media should not be going out seeking to erode that trust and make things worse,” Sheehan said.  

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has also criticised the minister's comments. 

A spokesperson for the minister gave the following response: "Minister O’Donovan is clear that it is the role of Coimisiún na Meán as independent regulator to enforce these duties and to make detailed media service codes and rules."

"Minister O’Donovan met with Coimisiún na Meán officials yesterday, and they engaged constructively with each other regarding the statutory provisions and media service codes that are in place," the statement read.

"Coimisiún na Meán informed the Minister that they had received a number of contacts from the public regarding media coverage of the events of last week and as independent regulator would follow up on any formal broadcasting complaints received."

Coimisiún na Meán is an independent media regulator that is responsible for regulating broadcasters, video-on-demand providers and online platforms established in Ireland.

The body was established in 2023 as part of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Act 2022. The media regulator also provides funding for public interest journalism, which the Limerick Leader - and  multiple other Irish media organisations - are in receipt of.