RTE asked for 'working document' on Frontline Presidential debate

The Compliance Committee of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland has asked RTÉ to release the working document upon which it based its investigation into the now infamous Frontline Presidential debate. It is the Committee's view that comments and other material contained in the document would provide additional insight into the broadcaster's editorial failings. The BAI however have stated they decided not to proceed with a statutory investigation in respect of the debate and its subsequent fallout. One review has already identified a series of failings in the production and broadcast of the programme, but it concluded that mistakes were not made as a result of bias or partiality towards any of the candidates involved. The programme in October 2011 is widely credited with the sea-change in opinion against then joint-presidential front runner, Cavan businessman Sean Gallagher after it broadcast a tweet from someone falsely claiming to represent rival candidate Martin McGuinness. The tweet, not sent by Mr McGuinness's campaign team, claimed that a man who allegedly gave Mr Gallagher a cheque for a Fianna Fail fundraiser would be presented by Sinn Fein the following day. It heaped further pressure on the independent local candidate who had already faced questioning throughout his campaign on his links with Fianna Fail. Following the election, with Mr Higgin's appointed to the Aras, the BAI subsequently upheld a complaint by Mr Gallagher ruling that the programme had acted unfairly as it had not established, nor had it verified the source of the tweet. RTE accepted the BAI finding and apologised to Mr Gallagher. Speaking with The Anglo-Celt last week, Mr Gallagher said he would await the full outcome of the BAI investigation before making any further comment.