The storm in a teacup that spilled over the top

In the midst of our recession I challenge you to find anybody who isn’t partial to a bit of humour amongst all the doom and gloom about the economy. Our public service broadcaster RTE however, doesn’t seem to agree.

The controversy which has been nicknamed ‘Portraitgate’ and ‘Cowengate’ has made headlines both at home and abroad in recent weeks.

As the story goes, ‘somebody’ managed to place unflattering nude portraits of Taoiseach Brian Cowen in both the National Gallery and the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin.

Although the caricatures painted by artist and teacher Conor Casby managed to spend very little time on display, the media lapped up the guerrilla art prank.

The story first appeared in The Sunday Tribune on March 22 with the headline ‘Cowen hung out to dry in National Gallery hijack.’ On March 23, RTE ran a report on the portraits at the end of the Nine O’Clock News bulletin. Eileen Dunne introduced the report in a somewhat lighter manner than usual making reference to the fact that the Taoiseach was ‘not thought to have posed’ for the portraits.

As considerable debate unfolded, RTE apologised the following evening on the Nine O’Clock News for broadcasting the report. They apologised ‘for any personal offence caused to Cowen or his family or for any disrespect shown to the office of Taoiseach.’

So, RTE, our public service broadcaster (who receive funding from the government in the form of our television licence fee in case you didn’t know) apologised for reporting on an issue that offended the powers that be. The Broadcasting Complaints Commission received only 6 complaints in relation to the original broadcast but in response to RTE’s apology, 56 complaints were logged.

Although ultimately personal taste will determine whether or not you find the portraits of the Taoiseach funny or offensive, the general reaction from the public seems to suggest that RTE’s apology has angered the nation - raising issues over the government’s involvement in the news we receive from RTE.

It has emerged that an internal decision was made and RTE did decide to apologise before they were contacted by the government’s press secretary Eoghan O’Neachtain. However, some see the station’s apology as censorship and bowing to political pressure in case it might offend the ‘paymaster.’

The initial story (the hanging of the portraits) faded into oblivion due to the hysterical reactions of O’Neachtain and TD Michael Kennedy’s spiel on Pat Kenny.

Widespread public outrage to RTE’s apology as well as investigations by gardai at Today FM for Casby’s contact details also pushed the issue of the portraits into the background.

This issue could have been put to bed overnight if the government had seen this prank for what it was, - a harmless bit of fun - and realised that they were fighting a losing battle. Caricature is part and parcel of becoming a political leader and Cowen is certainly not the first political leader to be targetted in this way.

If only the government could be as passionate about holding people accountable when it comes to the state of our economy. I think Pat Kenny had the right idea. Laugh it off, buy the portrait, and hang it in your toilet Cowen.