Prime Time: any chance of an investigation into Tony O'Reilly (or Denis O'Brien)?

Dionysus

For a long, long, long time I have been of the view that the refusal by Irish media outlets to investigate the dominance of Tony O'Reilly in the Irish media has been the most obvious sign of the sheer cowardice of Irish journalists (technically "Irish journalists" do not even have their own trade union and are merely only members of the Irish Branch of the British National Union of Journalists, ach sin scéal eile).


We all are now aware of Prime Time's defamation of Father Kevin Reynolds. Prime Time was clearly wrong. Numerous other powerless people have been the subject of witchhunts in the history of the Irish media. Powerful people, however, tend to be exempt from such witchhunts by journalists. Isn't it about time RTÉ led the way and chose to investigate somebody with enormous power in Ireland?

On the whole, however, Prime Time has been a hugely valuable programme in terms of investigating and uncovering wrongs in Irish society, as was its predecessor, Today Tonight.

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Extraordinarily, Prime Time has never done an investigation into the power which Tony O'Reilly, infamous tax exile and a person who has sworn an oath of allegiance to the British monarch, has in the Irish media, and has had for over 30 years. Why? This is incredible in terms of RTÉ's current affairs remit of defending the public interest.

It is, sadly, also understandable in that the RTÉ journalists who might do such an investigation would have severely limited career options outside RTÉ if they attacked Tony O'Reilly. As far as I'm aware the only national newspaper in Dublin which is not owned by O'Reilly's Independent Newspapers is The Irish Times.

RTÉ's refusal to investigate O'Reilly's dominance in the Irish media is also understandable as RTÉ is essentially -conspiracy theory or not - controlled by politicians who depend upon the support of O'Reilly's media group in order to be elected -witness Ahern, the then taoiseach, and Cowen visiting O'Reilly in Fitzwilliam Square before the 2007 General Election in order to secure his newspapers' support for their political party. It is not too long ago (1972) since the entire RTÉ Authority was sacked by the government of the day because it ran a story which that (Fianna Fáil) government did not like (technically, it refused to name the chief of staff of the IRA whom Kevin O'Kelly had interviewed). So, if RTÉ runs an investigation into O'Reilly not only will journalistic careers be ruined, but the government of the day could well censor such an investigation for fear of losing the support of his newspaper group in the next election.


Question: Now, can anybody think of a single reason why the most powerful figure in Irish media for the past three decades (and more) - a man who has the democratically-elected government of Ireland at his beck and call - has not been deemed worthy of an investigation by the state-owned broadcaster, RTÉ?

(Just for the contrarians, I will acknowledge that Denis O'Brien, another tax exile, is the up-and-coming controller of the Irish media and the person most likely to undermine Irish democracy after O'Reilly has been overthrown).

the groutch

two chances, eff all and none

starbelgrade

Dionysus wrote: »

Question: Now, can anybody think of a single reason why the most powerful figure in Irish media for the past three decades (and more) - a man who has the democratically-elected government of Ireland at his beck and call - has not been deemed worthy of an investigation by the state-owned broadcaster, RTÉ?

I think the answer to that might be in the question.

mikemac

a person who has sworn an oath of allegiance to the British monarch

He holds British citizenship so he can do it if he wants

I don't see the issue, sure every newsagent in Ireland sells British newspapers with an Irish tag tacked onto them. The Sun, Star, Daily Mail and others don't have Irish owners

Dionysus

mikemac wrote: »

He holds British citizenship so he can do it if he wants

I don't see the issue, sure every newsagent in Ireland sells British newspapers with an Irish tag tacked onto them. The Sun, Star, Daily Mail and others don't have Irish owners

There is patently an issue when the principal shareholder, Tony O'Reilly, in the largest "Irish" newspaper group, Indepenent Newspapers, can have "discussions" with the democratically-elected government of Ireland (as he did prior to the 2007 election) and tell them his demands in exchange for the support of his newspaper group for the political parties in question. How that doesn't run a shiver down the spine of any democrat in Ireland is beyond me.

If you really think his control of these newspapers is equatable with the average newsagent selling British newspapers, I'm not quite sure what to say.

My name is URL

Ask this fellla

mikemac

Suppose OP, in the morning The Irish Times or the Independant group go up for sale

Are you saying the government should dictate that only an Irish company or person be allowed buy them?

Wertz

Because no-one in RTÉ or any of the other "independent media" in this country sh*t on their own collective doorsteps.
One of the cheapest ways you can control a State or country is by owning large portions of it's media.
Short of one of the newspapers or radio stations in question being caught hacking phones, I doubt you'll see any change in that situation...

gurramok

mikemac wrote: »

Suppose OP, in the morning The Irish Times or the Independant group go up for sale

Are you saying the government should dictate that only an Irish company or person be allowed buy them?

So say goodbye to an Irish run media organisation? Should we get rid of the Irish Times then?

Tony O'Reilly has a dominant role in the Irish media scene, almost monopoly like control on the newspaper scene. Thank flick that most people do not take the views their so called journalists write as gospel.

whydoibother?

Those type of Prime Time programmes normally discover situations that aren't widely known about and that people are trying to hide. It's very well known what newspapers are under his (or his groups) control. The report would be about a minute long because there is no investigative journalism to do there.

I do agree that we need a debate as to the appropriateness of such a monopoly situation in relation to journalism, and possibly laws to prevent it. That's a Government debate though, if we are to do it properly. Maybe Prime Time could contribute something in studio, but it really needs to happen at a much higher level.

Daroxtar

Tony O Reilly and Denis O Brien should be shot just for the shíte that is the Sindo.

starbelgrade

Daroxtar wrote: »

Tony O Reilly and Denis O Brien should be shot just for the shíte that is the Sindo.

If there wasn't a readership who are willing to pay for the Sindo, then it wouldn't exist.

If anything, the readership are to blame for that newspaper, not it's owners.

Wertz

The readership might be to blame for it's continued existence and profitability, but the owners are to blame for the content or the general direction it takes.
Readers do not dictate the content or underlying agenda of any tradiotional media, despite what they'd have you believe...

Fratton Fred

The rant would be taken a lot more seriously if it wasn't so bigoted.

Sounds to me like the OP is more worried about his British connections than anything else.

Einhard

Dionysus wrote: »

(Just for the contrarians, I will acknowledge that Denis O'Brien, another tax exile, is the up-and-coming controller of the Irish media and the person most likely to undermine Irish democracy after O'Reilly has been overthrown).

Thanks for that.

Just my opinion, but I don't think it's right to launch investigations of any kind against individuals when there is no concrete suspicion of wrongdoing. I also don't see how it's relevent that O'reilly swore an oath to a foreign monarch.

UglyBolloxFace

Here's what I propose, and if our Government had any backbone they would go through with it:

As O'Reilly does not pay any tax here, he should be stripped of his Irish citizenship.

The same goes for any other high-flying fucks who are engaged in tax exile.

Einhard

UglyBolloxFace wrote: »

Here's what I propose, and if our Government had any backbone they would go through with it:

As O'Reilly does not pay any tax here, he should be stripped of his Irish citizenship.

Lots of Irish people living in Australia and America who don't pay taxes either...

UglyBolloxFace

Einhard wrote: »

Lots of Irish people living in Australia and America who don't pay taxes either...

That's negligible; they don't purposely transfer their assets' accounts abroad in order to deceive the Irish Exchequer.

Einhard

UglyBolloxFace wrote: »

That's negligible; they don't purposely transfer their assets' accounts abroad in order to deceive the Irish Exchequer.

Fair point. But they would argue that they are operating entirely within the law, and are hardly hiding the fact of their exile status, so not exactly deceiving anyone.

Wertz

In that case it's the law that's at fault... it's up to politicians to alter and change those laws, but they don't...would that be because their buddies and cohorts that benefit from those same laws would object to such a change?

Einhard

Wertz wrote: »

In that case it's the law that's at fault... it's up to politicians to alter and change those laws, but they don't...would that be because their buddies and cohorts that benefit from those same laws would object to such a change?

Maybe. Or, and I'm playing devil's advocate here, it may be that they consider receiving some tax as better than receiving none at all.

Wertz

Perhaps...but for those who play non resident tax exile, the benefits outweigh the costs (tax) involved, otherwise they'd just go and live in the channel islands or somewhere...
If they are to benefit from non resident status then it's not much to ask that they pay more of their own way in this State... but the bottom line is that they can make more by playing the game as it stands and the game will always be rigged in favour of those who have the most to gain, no matter what a politicain or party would have you believe.

ejmaztec

I'm surprised that "British" only got mentioned twice in the first post.:pac:

imme

O'Reilly and O'Brien are shareholders in Independent News & Media.

INM doesn't have a monopoly position in any section of the media.

Sonnenblumen

In the absence of any proof of wrong doing, it is simply irresponsible that a rant should be allowed to libel the good and long serving character of one of Ireland's leading business and sporting heroes. TOR achieved international success for his business acumen which he has consistently used much to Ireland's advantage. In the process, he has invested an absolute personal fortune (as well as losing plenty) to advance his business interests. He has created many jobs here and overseas.

If there is any proof of any wrong doing well where is it?

Crazy Horse 6

I still find it surprising people get their news from RTE/Newstalk and the like. It's nothing but state run propaganda to keep the worker bee's mislead.

CAPSLOCK2

Great post OP, they should investigate that issue. Too long have we been subjected to British propaganda.

Einhard

CAPSLOCK2 wrote: »

Great post OP, they should investigate that issue. Too long have we been subjected to British propaganda.

What issue exactly? It seems that for some people, O'Reilly's great crime is publishing opinions that they don't like.

It's a tad worrying to see calls on a relatively liberal forum like boards demanding that people be investigated when no allegations of wrongdoing have been made.

Wolfe Tone

Good post OP, I would certainly like to know more about just who controls the Irish media and what degree of influence he has over the government.