Republican News · Thursday 17 July 2003

BBC must be equality proofed

Sinn Féin representative Gerry Kelly has demanded that the BBC be designated as a public body and therefore subject to equality proofing.

Kelly's comments came after the BBC once again spent public money to promote the anti-Catholic Orange Order in their coverage of the 12 July demonstrations.

"Yet again this year the BBC spent public money presenting live coverage of the Twelth demonstrations," he said. "As is now common practice, the sectarian ethos of the Orange Order was ignored as was the UVF and UDA banners and flags accompanying the Orangemen. Also ignored was the militarisation of Catholic areas to allow these parades to pass. The coverage was nothing more than a blatant promotion of the Orange Order at public expense.

"It is clear from this sort of coverage that the current arrangements regarding regulation are untenable. The BBC has for some time been resisting designation as a public body and therefore dodging equality proofing regulations. Sinn Féin has repeatedly raised this matter with the British government and the time has now come for them to act on this important matter."