'Not appropriate' for Niall Boylan to remain on air as he runs for European elections
A spokesperson for Coimisiún na Meán said that 'persons involved with election interests' should not present programmes while campaigning for elections
Broadcaster Niall Boylan has announced he will contest this year's European Parliament elections as a candidate for newly founded party Independent Ireland.
The late-night radio host for Classic Hits FM will stand as a candidate in the four seat Dublin constituency, and was registered on the list of candidates this Monday, April 22.
However Coimisiún na Meán, the new regulator of broadcasting and online media in Ireland, has issued a statement saying that it "is not appropriate" for Mr Boylan to remain on-air while campaigning for election.
It is the stated position of Coimisiún na Meán that it is not appropriate for persons involved with ‘election interests’ to present programmes during the election campaign period – ‘election interests’ includes candidates for an election," a spokesperson for the regulator said.
"At all times, broadcasters, including presenters that they employ or recruit in a voluntary capacity are required to ensure that coverage of news and current affairs elections is fair, objective and impartial."
Coimisiún na Meán also said they have contacted Classic Hits FM to "re-iterate our view regarding persons involved with election interests presenting programmes during the election campaign period".
The radio station are due to release a statement on the matter this Tuesday evening.
Mr Boylan will stand against People Before Profit TD Brid Smith and Labour’s Aodhan Ó Riordain, along with Dr Umar Al-Qadri, chair of the Irish Muslim Council, Philip Dwyer, a member of the far-right Ireland First party, and Sinéad Gibney, former chief commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, who is running for the Social Democrats.