Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
RTE urged to end block on Ulster competition entries
Sinn Fein senator calls for rethink
RTE is being urged to end its block on Northern Irish viewers entering premium rate competitions.
Following a meeting with Communities Minister Caral Ni Chuilin, Sinn Fein senator Niall O Donnghaile called on the broadcaster to change its decision.
He said: “When this problem first came to light, RTE cited regulations in the North as the reasons for the bar on audiences here entering ‘premium’ competitions.
“This move caused considerable upset amongst regular and longstanding viewers and listeners from the North, who justifiably felt further excluded by the broadcaster, not least when competitions involving GAA county teams were concerned. I welcome today’s opportunity to discuss this issue with Minister Caral Ni Chuilin and the next steps in addressing the problem.
“We will be working closely with her and Sinead Ennis MLA, who sits on the Communities Committee, and Senator Elisha Mccallion, to engage with RTE in the time ahead in order to ensure the necessary steps are taken, North and South, to help make sure there are no further barriers in place for RTE audiences in the six counties.
“I welcome the minister’s commitment to engage with RTE and bring forward solutions to this block on viewers in the North.”
News of the Irish television channel’s move first aired in January last year. A spokesman said the decision was
made to ensure they were not in breach of Northern Ireland regulations. He added: “Following a review and arising from variance between the applicable regulation in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, RTE has made the decision to limit entry into premium rate competitions on its television, radio and online services to residents in the Republic of Ireland only.
In January 2019, Northern Ireland’s Department for Communities said: “The Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 prohibits the conduct of any prize competition in which success does not depend to a substantial degree on the exercise of skill.”