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S. E. A. Statements

SEA may go to court over BBC and UTV coverage of Euro elections

Thursday 25th March 2004

The SEA will, if necessary, go to court to prevent BBC Northern Ireland and Ulster Television going ahead with planned discrimination against parties outside the mainstream in coverage of the election campaign.

In a meeting with a SEA delegation this month, Lena Ferguson of BBC and Rob Morrison of UTV were open about the fact that the discriminatory arrangements the two broadcasters have in mind are entirely arbitrary, based on no statute, EU directive or democratic principle. The bosses of these two alleged public service broadcasting organisations have decided, without discussion or consultation, to allow only the main communal parties to transmit party political broadcasts.

We were told that the main parties will also have the lion's share of time on scheduled radio and television programmes. There is no requirement that this should be so. The SEA informed Ms. Ferguson and Mr. Morrison that we regarded this as totally unacceptable. We challenge the right of the bosses of the broadcasting organisations to make decisions of such significance for the democratic process.

We ask listeners and viewers to join with us in demanding fair play for all candidates.

The clear effect of the BBC/UTV proposals would be to shore up the four parties disputing which is to lead each community and to diminish the prospects of parties out to challenge the communal basis of politics here. The broadcasters would be intervening to bolster the status quo. This is not their function. We want them to think again.

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• 23rd December 2005
  • Stop the evictions for Ryan Air's Runway
• 12th December 2005
  • Bloody Sunday families attend Iraq peace conference
• 1st November 2005
  • Derry’s rail link may be getting back on track
• 27th September 2005
  • Bus to Rossport Five demo in Dublin Sat 1st October
• 22st September 2005
  • Research results for Derry people who want to show solidarity with the Rossport Five
• 21st September 2005
  • Rage against Hain helped spark violence ---McCann
• 13th September 2005
  • Into the West meets with Durkan, Campbell
• 25th August 2005
  • Socialist Environmental Alliance does not welcome ILEX boss
• 18th July 2005
  • Rail Disaster for Derry
• 13th July 2005
  • Derry Anti War Coalition Rally Saturday 16th July 3pm Guildhall Square
• 27th June 2005
  • Eamonn McCann to speak at G8 Alternatives events in Scotland this weekend
• 23rd June 2005
  • SEA calls for support for Band on the Walls
• 2nd June 2005
  • Socialist Environmental Alliance protest against PSNI
• 25th May 2005
  • Anti-poverty group to put "wrist-band" on Derry Walls
• 20th May 2005
  • SEA backs BBC strikers
• 19th May 2005
  • SEA slams Real IRA
• 19th May 2005
  • Derry trade unionists to meet new Foyle MP Mark Durkan
• 18th May 2005
  • First they came for the tea trolley....SEA slams Derry rail downgrade
• 14th May 2005
  • Big Derry contingent to G8 Protests in Scotland
• 28th April 2005
  • SEA welcomes Sinn Fein removal of election literature from Royal Mail
• 24th April 2005
  • Stingy Ryanair
• 24th March 2005
  • No welcome for airport decision
• 24th March 2005
  • SEA wants strike action against education cuts
• 17th march 2005
  • SEA calls for ILEX to be scrapped
• 14th march 2005
  • Western Board 'on the cheap' speech therapy
• 23rd February 2005
  • S.E.A. urges voter registration
• 10th February 2005
  • Call for big turnout at Saturday's water rallies
• 25th November 2004
  • Airport expansion should not be on 'Talks' agenda says SEA
• 25th November 2004
  • Foyle Trust "twisting truth" on speech therapy
• 19th November 2004
  • Blue bins must be used properly to avoid incinerator
• 21st October 2004
  • SEA condemns sectarian attacks
• 30th September 2004
  • SEA welcomes support for "Civil Rights for All" March
• 28th September 2004
  • No sectarian motive to civil rights march
• 20th September 2004
  • Civil Rights For All march 2nd October
• 14th September 2004
  • Water Charges
• 9th September 2004
  • Northern Ireland must remain GM-free
• 12th August 2004
  • Water privatisation will lead to more poverty
• 8th August 2004
  • SEA says GP cutbacks will increase illness
• 29th July 2004
  • SEA stands up for civil rights of black and gay people
• 20th June 2004
  • High Court ruling about civil servants standing for election
• 8th June 2004
  • Call for votes
• 7th June 2004
  • McCann supporters take over Cave Hill
• 3rd June 2004
  • McCann records his first single!
• 10th May 2004
  • McCann seeking judicial review of BBC decision
• 3rd May 2004
  • Meeting BBC and UTV re election broadcasts
• 5th April 2004
  • Derry City Council needs to move on rail
• 29th March 2004
  • Huge Response to SEA Campaign on Railways
• 25th March 2004
  • SEA may go to court over TV coverage of Euro elections
  • SEA to challenge other parties on Bush visit to Ireland
  • Why SEA is standing in European Elections
• 15th March 2004
  • SEA defends Nucleus against Precious Life
• 9th March 2004
  • SEA attacks Council plans to cut leisure facilities and wages
• 19th February 2004
  • Policy Statement On young People - June 2001
• 5th February 2004
  • Left Convention Derry 14th February
  • Glen Court meeting unanimous
• 26th January 2004
  • Social Security Office closures affect claimants
• 19th January 2004
  • SEA backs NIPSA strikers
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