Two members of commercial news channel HirTV staff have been banned from Parliament for one week as a warning following repeated, deliberate breaches of the rules, Speaker of Parliament Agnes Forsthoffer said on Tuesday.
Forsthoffer also said on Facebook that the rules would be changing in future, and in the event of a breach, not only individual staff members but the entire editorial team could lose their access to the Parliament building.
She said that since Apr 12, the press had been granted exceptional freedom and opportunities to carry out their reporting. She cited that filming is permitted in both large lounges on the main floor and outside committee rooms, and that the press has regained access to the press room on the main floor.
There is also a press gallery again, and journalists are allowed to enter every gallery to take photographs, she said.
“Everything is in place for them to carry out their important work,” she added.
At the same time, she said there were areas where filming is expressly prohibited, whether for security or other reasons. Parliament’s staff regularly remind members of the press of these rules and draw their attention to any breaches, she added.
Forsthoffer said there were some who failed to show respect for MPs even in the corridor leading to the canteen, constantly following them even when they did not wish to make a statement, adding that this behaviour hindered and disrupted their work.
She said that in line with the rules soon to be amended, “if a member of staff’s provocative behaviour ‘warrants a ban’, this will not only affect them in future, but the entire editorial team could lose their access to the Parliament building.” She said holders of press passes would be kept continuously informed about the changing rules.
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