Rafter unveils report on political advertising
24 November 09

Political adverts should be allowed on tv and radio here to enable political parties, trade unions and other groups to publicise their policies, according to a new report.

Commissioned by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, the report says that the current ban in Ireland is open to legal challenge because of recent rulings in the European Court. The report also says it is timely to review the current rules in the light of the growing influence of the internet, which is not subject to any rules on political content. It further states that there is a need to review the current blanket ban on paid political advertising, to avoid being caught in a "policy and technological time warp".

The report, entitled 'Political Advertising: the Regulatory Position and the Public View', concludes that while current rules should definitely be relaxed, there should still be limits on spending to prevent such political advertising ballooning to US levels. The report is authored by Dr. Kevin Rafter, a former journalist who is now head of the department of film and media at the National Film School at the Institute of Art, Design and Technology.