Broadcast moratorium to be lifted in time for general election

James Cox

The broadcast moratorium imposed on radio and TV stations during elections has been scrapped.

Coimisiún na Meán announced this morning the reporting restrictions would be lifted in time for the upcoming general election.

The moratorium normally came info effect at 2pm the day before the vote, meaning radion stations could not continue to discuss election issues.

The moratorium will be replaced by an additional care requirement. This will mean stations can discuss the election, but must take additional measures to ensure misinformation that could impact the election is not allowed.

Broadcasters have been calling for the moratorium to be removed for a long time, as they pointed out online outlets were not forced to stop reporting on the election the day before.

Coimisiún na Meán’s broadcasting and video-on-demand commissioner Aoife MacEvilly said: “A media landscape that supports democracy and democratic values, underpins civic discourse and reduces the impact of disinformation is a priority for Coimisiún na Meán. During election periods, broadcasters across Ireland play a crucial role in informing the public about the issues and candidates involved in the election campaign.

"The annual Reuters Digital News Report, which was published in June and is funded by Coimisiún na Meán, found that trust in news remains high in Ireland compared to other countries. We recognise the trust that Irish viewers and listeners place in broadcasters and our approach to the moratorium reflects Ireland’s changing media landscape.

"Elections and electoral integrity are a key focus for us at Coimisiún na Meán 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."