Fine Gael’s Dr. James Reilly has demanded that RTÉ tell all about the decision to drop Dr. James Crown from last Friday’s Late Late Show which is shaping up to be the story of the week.
Crown is an outspoken critic of the Government’s cancer care policy and was stopped from appearing on the programme after a decision was made by someone above the programme’s staff. Allegations are now doing the rounds that RTÉ was contacted by the Government and ‘advised’ not to let Crown appear.
Bertie Ahern has said that he is not aware of any Government figure contacting the station, a statement which will do little to calm things. James Reilly said that if the Government pressured the broadcaster into such a decision it would amount to censorship and be bad for Irish democracy.
That seems like a bit of a dramatic statement to make, however as with many State broadcasters RTÉ’s coverage of current affairs carries a level of trust and gravitas amongst the public that commercial alternatives do not.
What is sure to enhance the issue is the fact that the TV licence fee is currently being reviewed by the Government.
The Government was said to be debating a €2 or €4 rise in the fee over the last week or two but with an independent review body already suggesting that no increase was necessary, the Government has the freedom to leave things as they are until 2009 if they wish. Bosses at RTÉ, whom were looking for a rate rise, are sure to be aware of that.