Ireland’s Media Minister has been compared to outgoing Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban after he questioned media reporting of fuel protests.
Patrick O’Donovan said there were “lopsided” political views and “skewed” broadcasting of fuel protests and blockades that disrupted traffic, public transport and fuel supplies for a week.
Mr O’Donovan said he would ask Ireland’s broadcasting regulator Coimisiun na Mean to examine media reporting of the protests as the Government came under pressure for its handling of the demonstrations.
His comments were roundly criticised by opposition parties on Tuesday, and his party leader also said a review was not necessary.
During a motion of confidence in the Government, Mr O’Donvoan came under criticism from both Labour and the Social Democrats.
“The Minister for Media announced yesterday that he wants Coimisiun na Mean to investigate media coverage of the protests,” Labour leader Ivana Bacik said.
“Goodbye Viktor Orban, hello Patrick O’Donovan.”
Mr Orban, a close ally of both US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, was voted out of office on Sunday after 16 years in power.
Ms Bacik added: “At best, one might hope this was a cynical attempt to distract from a disastrous week for the Government.
“But at worst, it’s a minister resorting to sinister threats against the national broadcaster because it was doing its job of reporting fairly on events from around the country.”
Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns said the Government was “engaged in a blame game” after the fuel protests and that the Communications Minister “is even blaming the media”.
Earlier, Ireland’s Deputy Premier said a review of media reporting of the fuel protests was not needed.
Asked about the comments by Mr O’Donovan, who is a Fine Gael minister, Tanaiste and party leader Simon Harris said a free media was “an absolute vital part of our democracy”.
“I’m a big supporter of freedom of the media, freedom of the press, as is the Government, as is the minister,” Mr Harris told reporters outside Government Buildings in Dublin.
“In fact, Minister Patrick O’Donovan will be bringing forward legislative change later this year to further underpin the importance of freedom of the media, in line with a number of European developments.
“A free media, a robust media, is an absolute vital part of our democracy.
“Of course, at the end of any difficult period, you can look back and say, at a moment in national crisis, how do we get information out there, are there learnings?
“But I certainly don’t think there’s any need for any sort of formal review, these are matters for Coimisiun na Mean.”
He added: “I think the media, like everybody in this country, were doing their best to deal with a fast evolving and a very difficult situation.
“My priority now as a government leader is to try and move forward, try to deliver for people in this country.”
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) had described the minister’s comments as “sinister and deeply disturbing” and said they had caused “genuine concern”.
The regulator, Coimisiun na Mean, said in a statement that if individuals want to make a complaint about broadcast content, they can find more information on the regulator’s website.
Social Democrats TD Sinead Gibney said she was “genuinely shocked” by Mr O’Donovan’s comments, which she further characterised as “overreach”.
She told reporters at Leinster House that the minister did not have “such authority” and accused him of “choosing to grind his petty personal axe” against the media.
FG Minister Patrick O'Donavan has threatened press freedom in Ireland.
— Peadar Tóibín TD (@Toibin1) April 14, 2026
It's an authoritarian abuse of power, and he, along with the rest of the government, should go. pic.twitter.com/YNeV8fJx92
Ms Gibney said the minister should recall his remarks, adding that he was an “interested party” in the coverage of protests.
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy also agreed with the NUJ and accused the minister of attempting to apply pressure on RTE.
He said the coverage was not “too sympathetic” to protesters and accused Mr O’Donovan of trying to turn RTE into a “government mouthpiece”.
Green Senator Malcolm Noonan said he believed Mr O’Donovan of “straying into dangerous territory” and infringing on the impartiality of the commission.
Aontu leader Peadar Toibin accused Mr O’Donovan of an “abuse of his position as minister”.
“The minister has his hands on the purse strings in relation to the funding of a significant number of media outlets in this country,” he said.
“Freedom of speech and freedom of media are key foundation stones of a functioning liberal democracy, and I believe that Patrick O’Donovan has way overstepped the mark in an authoritarian fashion with regard to the comments that he has made.”
The minister met with Coimisiun na Mean on Tuesday and it is understood that while he did not seek a review of protest coverage, the regulator had received contact from members of the public and will follow up on any formal complaints.
It is further understood the meeting also involved a discussion on respective responsibilities as well as independence of function, and that the regulator is to launch a public consultation on fairness in broadcast news later this year.
