What Prime Time didn't want you to hear

Wednesday January 15, 2003 00:48

by Aidan - IMC

Tuesday the 14th of January's Prime Time left Tim Hourigan out of the loop. Here's the inside story of some of the behind the scenes wrangling behind this extraordinary story.

Yesterday it was reported that Tim Hourigan, the dogged peace activist who has done so much reporting on the comings and goings of US military aircraft at shannon; would debate the issue with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, on Prime Time RTEs political affair program. Anyone who watched tonight’s program would be surprised to see that instead of a live debate Tim's part was pre recorded, at RTE's limerick studio.

This is, in part, the story of why this happened, but it leaves us with more questions then answers.

In the early afternoon Tim was contacted by Prime Time staff, and informed that due to potential “technical difficulties" the live feed would have to be cancelled.

Contacting a source at the Limerick RTE studio, I learnt that this was utterly untrue. The technician was frankly insulted, that this was used as an excuse.

Tim meanwhile had arranged his own transportation to the studio in Dublin. Now Prime Time told Tim that he could not participate in the debate because he was not a "politician". This change in tactic was countered by Green Party chairman and spokesperson on foreign affairs; John Gormley. The TD offered to let Tim replace him, acting as the Green Party spokesperson on Shannon. Prime Time instead decided to decline to have John Gormley on the program, and the person now debating the minister would be Gay Mitchell; the Fine Gael foreign affairs spokesperson. Fine Gael is a party who have murmured quiet words on the governments stance on Shannon; and have agreed in general with Fianna Fail's policy towards the US and Iraq.

When questioned about Prime Times decision; whether it was a technical problem, or whether it was because Tim was not a "politician"; The producer Noel Curran, respond "both". Confronted with the fact that sources in the Limerick studio denied any technical fault, Noel ignored the question.

I then moved onto the definition of "politician". Tim had stood as a Green Party candidate during the last election and received over four thousand votes. Noel scoffed that didn't qualify as a "politician", but refused to give his definition of the job. On several occasions Prime Time has used authorities in fields to speak on subjects. Few people outside of air traffic control in shannon, and the government have Tim's knowledge of the comings and goings in shannon, and the constitutional rights of foreign military aircraft using an Irish air field.

Noel then became belligerent and aggressive. He said that Tim's qualifications were this journalists opinion, and whats more he (Prime Time) wanted a political debate. He then went on shouting that HE was the producer of his program and didn't HE have the right to decide who HE let on his program. This was repeated over and over again. Rational argument was ignored; and it became clear that only a “professional” politician was only qualified to speak on this matter, at least according to Prime Time.

Unsurprisingly the debate was at best toothless. What was disgusting was the pre recorded section with Tim. Tim wanted to state that although use of troops through shannon was important, he wanted to discuss the transport of munitions unreported and without escort. Tim section was cut off quickly when he tried to raise this point.

The argument between Brian Cowen and Gay Mitchell was incredibly poor. A half hearted attempt to discuss US troops and their side arms was raised. Cowen having already played his "get out of jail" card yesterday by announcing some troops "may" be carrying personal weapons on "certain" flights, meant he could deflect the half hearted questions from Gay Mitchell. The debate descended into half hearted mumbling about UN resolutions over Iraq. The serious issue of US leased cargo planes carrying munitions through shannon was deftly ignored.

Prime Time has a well won reputation for serious unflinching journalism. The questions now keep coming, why did Prime Time flinch from this debate? Tim's profile and recognition has never been higher. His knowledge of the comings and goings in shannon, and the constitutional breaches they represent is without par. There were no technical problems, and furthermore he easily could have made it to the Dublin or Cork studio in plenty of time. Gay Mitchell’s opposition could be best described as limp wristed, and honestly be described as pathetic. Fine Gael’s opposition to US foreign policy and troops in shannon is another in the parties desperate scrambling to find public support where ever it can . And the essential point of the situation at Shannon was ignored. This could not be by accident. Tim and others have provided plenty of information (including legal details of the leasing agreement between Strategic Air Command and the Cargo carriers).

Why exactly did Prime Time flinch from a real debate?

To learn more about Tim’s work in Shannon read his latest dramatic report at;
http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=23883

Or click here
www.refuelingforpeace.org