Ireland Sees Anti-Pantigate Bill

Last month there was an uproar in Ireland after state television paid off anti-gay columnists who claimed that they were libeled when drag activist Panti Bliss called them homophobes. The flap became known in the press as Pantigate and turned Panti Bliss into an international icon. Today a bill was introduced in Ireland's legislature that would grant broadcasters some protections against claims of "offense" by remarks such as those made by Panti Bliss.

Via Eile Magazine:

Stephen Donnelly, an Independent TD for Wicklow and East Carlow, has introduced legislation earlier today in Dáil Éireann that would change the Broadcasting Act to prevent litigious-minded groups and individuals from shutting down public debate. The Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2014 removes any reference to the term “offence” from Section 39 of the Broadcasting Act, as a result, Broadcasters would no longer have to ensure that nothing that could be termed offensive is broadcast. “I do not believe that people should be censored for saying offensive things” said Donnelly, “whether that offence is reasonably caused or not. The legislation in its current form gags free speech, harms public debate and means broadcasters can be bullied by the litigious and thin-skinned.”

(Tipped by JMG reader Mike)