Trócaire ad ruling by BCI "outrageously narrow": spokesman

The decision of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) to ban an ad by Trócaire, the prominent Third World charity, for “political content� was described yesterday as “a spurious interpretation of the law�.

The ad, which refers to Trócaire's website, is linked to a campaign by the agency to end gender discrimination. The website contains an online petition, which is the basis of the ruling by the BCI.

It claims that the reference to the website “is directed towards a political end�, contrary to section 10 (3) Radio and Television Act 1988.

The decision of the BCI was made on Tuesday, on foot of a query from independent radio station Today FM, who claimed that they were worried about the status of their broadcasting license.

RTE, which is self regulating in regards to the advertising content which it carries, is continuing to broadcast the ad.

Speaking to ciNews, a spokesperson for the Trócaire said that the decision was a surprise, given that previous ads by the agency had broadcast a number of ads with similar content.

“Part of the frustration about the decision is that we used almost exactly the same wording in our campaign last year,� the spokesperson continued.

The decision was “not healthy�, the spokesperson added. “I think it sets a bad precedent. If it is followed it will make life almost impossible for NGOs (non governmental organisations).

Trócaire has said that it will challenge the interpretation of the relevant provision of the Radio and Television Act, which Trócaire director Justin Kilcullen described on Tuesday as “outrageously narrowâ€?.

However, if they are unsuccessful, the BCI have already offered Trócaire the option of recasting the ad in such a way as to avoid clashing with the law as it stands. 

Commenting on the ban, Labour Party President,  Michael D Higgins, said it was sad that in the month in which people are celebrating the abolition of slavery, "that  we  are regarding the prosecution of an international  campaign  for the equality and protection of women and girls as so ‘political’ that it is not a suitable subject for mention on the radio."