The Communications Minister has told institutions that comment on matters of public opinion to expect the debate to be robust, heated and even hostile.
It follows reports RTE has paid damages to a number of groups who were offended by remarks made by Rory O'Neill on the Saturday Night Show earlier this month.
The man better known as Dublin drag queen, Panti, had part of an interview discussing same-sex marriage removed from the RTE Player.
Pat Rabbitte says he believes 'homophobe' is too loaded a term to describe those who disagree on issues of gay equality.
However, the Minister says RTÉ must ensure full and free exchange of information and opinion on all matters of legitimate public interest.
The RTE Press Office has told 98FM News that it has "no comment" in relation to claims by the Iona Institute that it was paid "respectable" damages by the state broadcaster following the interview.
You can read the Communication Minister's full statement below:
“Speaking personally, I have never used the term ‘homophobe’ to describe those who disagree with me on issues of gay equality in general or gay marriage in particular. It is too loaded a term to be used to categorise those who hold contrary views on what is a matter for legitimate public debate.
That said, I would also hope that people and institutions that hold themselves out as commentators on, or contributors to, public debate fully appreciate – as most politicians do – that debate can be robust, heated, personal and sometimes even hostile. If you enter the arena, you cannot expect that the Queensbury Rules will always apply.
It would be a matter of serious concern if recourse to our defamation laws was to have a chilling effect on the conduct of public debate on this issue, in the lead-in to the forthcoming referendum on gay marriage.
I have no intention of interfering in RTÉ’s management of the litigation claims against it. But I do expect that RTÉ remains fully committed to its chief obligation as a public service broadcaster – to ensure the full and free exchange of information and opinion on all matters of legitimate public interest.”
