Sinn Féin’s attempts to ‘censor’ RTÉ could have implications for local radio stations, a Fine Gael General Election candidate has warned.
It follows a move by Mary Lou McDonald’s party to promise to review RTÉ’s news coverage in the party manifesto.
Donegal Fine Gael General Election candidate John McNulty said Sinn Féin’s latest manifesto policy is a chilling attempt to intimidate RTÉ and undermine press freedom.
He said “I am really concerned that this policy won’t end there and will extend to our valued local radio stations.
“No wonder the National Union of Journalists is angry. This is an attack on press independence and journalists who already work in a difficult and often stressful media landscape.
“Does Sinn Féin threaten to withdraw State supports or benefits – or even valuable Government advertising if they don’t like how the party is being reported on?
“The party claims a review of RTÉ would be independent. The very fact they are calling for the review is like something from the old East Germany during the Cold War.
“I am very concerned that this is just the tip of the iceberg on how a Sinn Féin Government would seek to control and intimidate media outlets including our valued local radio stations who have had an exemplary record in fair and honest discussions and news reporting for decades.
“I am calling on Pearse Doherty to scrap this manifesto proposal immediately so that the chilling threats to journalistic freedom don’t begin in Montrose and end up at Mountain Top in Letterkenny.”
