TDs say banning of ads for religious orders 'retrograde'

RELIGIOUS ORDERS should be allowed to advertise for vocations and Christmas cribs on radio and television and end hypocrisy in broadcasting, according to TDs.

Chris Andrews (FF, Dublin South East) said the "banning of ads for religious vocations is a backward and retrograde step and such advertising should be permitted in the context of this (Broadcasting) Bill".

Fine Gael communications spokesman Simon Coveney said it was "completely hypocritical to insist on a ban on all religious advertising when allowing the Angelus to be shown before Six Oneor permitting A Prayer at Bedtimeto be shown at night".

"Is Ireland becoming so politically correct that it is not possible to allow someone to advertise the sale of a crib at Christmas?"

They were speaking during the ongoing Dáil debate on the Broadcasting Bill, which consolidates almost 50 years of broadcasting legislation, retaining provisions such as restricting advertising aimed "towards religious ends".

Mr Andrews said: "It is amazing that an order such as the Holy Ghost Fathers cannot advertise on television for religious vocations." They were "quiet, non-intrusive and constructive in the work that they do in Africa and elsewhere across the globe". Yet in Ireland people "consider we have become a modern society and television advertisements for religious vocations are old-fashioned".

Mr Coveney said that Ireland "is a secular state, but we are also a Christian society, Celtic, multicultural and multireligious. We are an open, liberal country and we should permit advertising by any church as long as such advertising is tolerant and reasonable."

Their views echo those of Catholic bishops who last month called for a relaxation of restrictions on religious advertising on radio and television.

Earlier Labour Party chairman Michael D Higgins said he was "filled with despair and disappointment" that the Bill failed to discuss cultural values and ethos. The definition of a public service broadcaster was RTÉ, he said.

Broadcasting "is located within culture and culture has to do with citizenship. To have a long elaborate statement of how all the technical adjustments will be made to what is essentially a commercial ethos, without discussing these issues, is a source of sadness," he said.