Sir, - The Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland has decided that the recent anti-racism campaign by Amnesty International (Irish Section) brought advertising into disrepute. In particular it censured Amnesty for using the images of three Government members, Bertie Ahern, Mary Harney and John O'Donoghue, without their prior written consent. This decision was made on foot of a complaint from a member of the public whose identity, in accordance with normal ASAI practice, has not been released to Amnesty or to the public at large.
Surely the ASAI, by its actions in this case, has brought the notion of self-regulation into disrepute! The ASAI's does not extend to considering complaints about advertisements whose "principal purpose" is to express a position on "a political, religious, industrial relations, social, or aesthetic matter or on an issue of public interest or concern" (Section 1.4 of its own Code of Advertising Standards).
Because the newspaper advertisements run by Amnesty as part of its campaign contained a small stub for membership subscriptions and donations, the ASAI has taken the view that this brought the complaint within the terms of its mandate which covers, by and large, commercial advertising.
The fundamental point made by Amnesty in its campaign was that there had been a lack of political leadership on the issue of racism in Ireland. The core truth of that assertion was borne out by the reaction of thin-skinned politicians who seemed more concerned to defend their imagined property rights in their own image than in addressing the issue of racism. That hyper-sensitivity to criticism was confirmed by veiled threats to use the manifestly unfair defamation laws which they, as self-interested politicians, have maintained on the statute book for obvious reasons.
Amnesty succeeded in placing the issue of racism - which it suits politicians of all hues to avoid and even deny - at the centre of public debate. It has lent their considerable reputation and power to a cause that was crying out for direction and profile. Perhaps that is why Amnesty has so discomfited those with sufficient power to do something about racism.
The ASAI should hang its head in shame at what amounts to a pathetic attempt to impose dubious commercial values on the freedom of political debate. The idea that NGOs should have to obtain the written consent of public figures (who have voluntarily entered the public arena) before using their images in a context which might imply criticism of their public work is simply laughable. It would be fitter for the ASAI to offer Amnesty International an award for its bold and clearly effective campaign. - Yours etc.,
Donncha O'Connell, Director, Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Dominick Court, Dublin 1.