Concern legal loophole remains open
THE Government has been accused of ignoring warnings to exploit a loophole allowing it to advertise without proper regulations.
Current legislation means the Communications Minister could sign off on a misleading ad as the State does not need to comply with the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland.
The issue, first raised two years ago by Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan, features in the Media Monitoring Report for Ireland for 2017.
She said: “The tragic irony of this report is it flagged two years in a row the use of public money for State advertising was open to exploitation due to lack of proper oversight and regulation.
“Instead of heeding the warnings, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Fine Gael seized it as an opportunity and instead upped the amounts being spent on PR
and spin for the Govern- ment. The Government and particularly the new minister Richard Bruton must take immediate action and establish a proper regulatory framework setting out clear independent criteria for the use of public money in State advertising.”
The annual report, which was obtained by the Irish Mirror, revealed:
■ State advertising expenditure has increased to €60million from €47million
■ Risk to political independence from the media has risen to 43% from 39%, and
■ Dangers to the viability of the media have increased to 32% from 8%.
The report, which evaluates the influence of the State in media, said paid for political advertising on radio and television – other than party broadcasts – is banned in Ireland.
These restrictions do not apply to print or online markets.
A Department of Communications spokesman said: “Following the publication of the first report of the Interdepartmental Group on the Security of Ireland’s Electoral Process and Disinformation, the Department of the Taoiseach recently held a public consultation on the regulation of transparency of online political advertising.
“The topic will also be the subject of further discussion at an upcoming open policy forum, which will be held on December 6.”
State advertising expenditure in 2017 was higher than year before