Election broadcast moratorium to be scrapped ahead of general election
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The broadcast moratorium has been formally scrapped by Coimisiún na Mean, and is to be replaced by an “additional care requirement” ahead of the upcoming election.
The change comes only days away from a general election being called, with expectations Taoiseach Simon Harris will seek a Dáil dissolution next Thursday.
The moratorium, which had been in place since 1997, prevented television and radio broadcasters from providing information that could have potentially swayed how a person votes.
It kicked in from 2pm the day before polling day and lasted until polls closed.
The new additional care requirement will begin 24 hours before polls open and last until they close. This is being referred to as the "critical election period".
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A spokesperson for Coimisiún na Meán said: “During the critical election period, broadcasters should treat with extreme care information relating to the election that it believes, or has reason to believe, has been circulated with the intention of misleading or confusing voters or that is likely to mislead or confuse voters.”
However, they add implementing the additional care requirement will be at the editorial discretion of each individual broadcaster.
The spokesperson added broadcasters “should take additional care” to ensure contributors to programmes do not “interfere with the electoral process by making false or misleading claims” over election procedures.
Broadcasters are also being asked to not report on either exit polls or opinion polls while the public are casting ballots.
Coimisiún na Meán’s broadcasting and video-on-demand commissioner Aoife MacEvilly confirmed the plan, saying elections and electoral integrity were “key” for the organisation this year.
“Alongside this new additional care approach for broadcasters, once the date of an election is confirmed, we will be publishing information for electoral candidates on our role in relation to broadcasting and online safety regulation, and how we can help them, alongside our guidelines for broadcasters,” Ms MacEvilly said.
“We will also engage with online platforms on their preparations for the elections, to ensure that they play their part in upholding electoral integrity and ensuring that people across Ireland can make free, fair and informed choices about where to cast their vote.’’