Sinn Féin Director of Elections, Matt Carthy, has said that RTÉ should clear up the controversy surrounding communication to the broadcaster by Fine Gael officials in relation to the filming of an exchange between the Taoiseach and a member of the public in Kanturk, Co. Cork.

Matt Carthy said:

“It has been widely reported now that a member of Simon Harris’ team communicated to RTÉ regarding the filming of an exchange between the Taoiseach and a member of the public in Kanturk with the aim of suppressing broadcast of the incident.

“It is also reported that Fine Gael officials told RTÉ that the woman involved in the exchange was a Sinn Féin member – which is completely untrue.

“When these reports were put to Simon Harris last night he was extremely evasive and failed to deal with what are very serious allegations.

“Fine Gael has refused to come clean on this issue, which goes right to the heart of the democratic process.

“In the interests of transparency and to assure the public that the national broadcaster is not facing undue pressure by government parties, RTÉ needs to publish details of the correspondence with Fine Gael in relation to the Kanturk incident.”