{"id":398522,"date":"2026-04-14T20:38:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T20:38:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/398522\/"},"modified":"2026-04-14T20:38:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T20:38:10","slug":"media-minister-compared-to-viktor-orban-over-fuel-protest-comments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/398522\/","title":{"rendered":"Media Minister compared to Viktor Orban over fuel protest comments"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Media Minister has been compared to outgoing Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban after he questioned media reporting of fuel protests.<\/p>\n

Patrick O\u2019Donovan said there were \u201clopsided\u201d political views and \u201cskewed\u201d broadcasting of fuel protests and blockades that disrupted traffic, public transport and fuel supplies for a week.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Donovan said he would ask Ireland\u2019s broadcasting regulator Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n to examine media reporting of the protests as the Government came under pressure for its handling of the demonstrations.<\/p>\n

His comments were roundly criticised by opposition parties on Tuesday, and his party leader also said a review was not necessary.<\/p>\n

\"FinePatrick O\u2019Donovan said there were \u2018lopsided\u2019 political views and \u2018skewed\u2019 broadcasting of fuel protests (Liam McBurney\/PA)<\/p>\n

During a motion of confidence in the Government, both Labour and the Social Democrats criticised O\u2019Donovan\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Minister for Media announced yesterday that he wants Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n to investigate media coverage of the protests,\u201d Labour leader Ivana Bacik said.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoodbye Viktor Orban, hello Patrick O\u2019Donovan.\u201d<\/p>\n

Orban, a close ally of both US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, was voted out of office on Sunday after 16 years in power.<\/p>\n

Bacik added: \u201cAt best, one might hope this was a cynical attempt to distract from a disastrous week for the Government.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut at worst, it\u2019s a minister resorting to sinister threats against the national broadcaster because it was doing its job of reporting fairly on events from around the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"HungaryViktor Orban, a close ally of US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin was voted out of office after 16 years in power in Hungary (AP)<\/p>\n

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said the Government was \u201cengaged in a blame game\u201d after the fuel protests and that the Communications Minister \u201cis even blaming the media\u201d.<\/p>\n

Earlier, the T\u00e1naiste said a review of media reporting of the fuel protests was not needed.<\/p>\n

Asked about the comments by O\u2019Donovan, who is a Fine Gael minister, T\u00e1naiste and party leader Simon Harris, said a free media was \u201can absolute vital part of our democracy\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a big supporter of freedom of the media, freedom of the press, as is the Government, as is the minister,\u201d Harris told reporters outside Government Buildings in Dublin.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn fact, Minister Patrick O\u2019Donovan will be bringing forward legislative change later this year to further underpin the importance of freedom of the media, in line with a number of European developments.<\/p>\n

\u201cA free media, a robust media, is an absolute vital part of our democracy.<\/p>\n

\"IrishT\u00e1naiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris said his priority was moving forward following the protests (Brian Lawless\/PA)<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, at the end of any difficult period, you can look back and say, at a moment in national crisis, how do we get information out there, are there learnings?<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I certainly don\u2019t think there\u2019s any need for any sort of formal review, these are matters for Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cI think the media, like everybody in this country, were doing their best to deal with a fast evolving and a very difficult situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy priority now as a government leader is to try and move forward, try to deliver for people in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) had described the minister\u2019s comments as \u201csinister and deeply disturbing\u201d and said they had caused \u201cgenuine concern\u201d.<\/p>\n

The regulator, Coimisi\u00fan na Me\u00e1n, said in a statement that if individuals want to make a complaint about broadcast content, they can find more information on the regulator\u2019s website.<\/p>\n

Social Democrats TD Sinead Gibney said she was \u201cgenuinely shocked\u201d by O\u2019Donovan\u2019s comments, which she further characterised as \u201coverreach\u201d.<\/p>\n

She told reporters at Leinster House that the minister did not have \u201csuch authority\u201d and accused him of \u201cchoosing to grind his petty personal axe\u201d against the media.<\/p>\n

FG Minister Patrick O’Donavan has threatened press freedom in Ireland.<\/p>\n

It’s an authoritarian abuse of power, and he, along with the rest of the government, should go. pic.twitter.com\/YNeV8fJx92<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn TD (@Toibin1) April 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Gibney said the minister should recall his remarks, adding that he was an \u201cinterested party\u201d in the coverage of protests.<\/p>\n

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy also agreed with the NUJ and accused the minister of attempting to apply pressure on RT\u00c9.<\/p>\n

He said the coverage was not \u201ctoo sympathetic\u201d to protesters and accused O\u2019Donovan of trying to turn RT\u00c9 into a \u201cgovernment mouthpiece\u201d.<\/p>\n

Green Senator Malcolm Noonan said he believed O\u2019Donovan of \u201cstraying into dangerous territory\u201d and infringing on the impartiality of the commission.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\"Opposition<\/p>\n

Ireland<\/p>\n

Opposition TDs label Jim O\u2019Callaghan \u2018Rambo\u2019 after Defence Forces statement<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Aont\u00fa leader Peadar T\u00f3ib\u00edn accused O\u2019Donovan of an \u201cabuse of his position as minister\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe minister has his hands on the purse strings in relation to the funding of a significant number of media outlets in this country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cFreedom of speech and freedom of media are key foundation stones of a functioning liberal democracy, and I believe that Patrick O\u2019Donovan has way overstepped the mark in an authoritarian fashion with regard to the comments that he has made.\u201d<\/p>\n