Irish state broadcaster RTE has been accused of a pro Democratic Party bias in the US presidential election.

Fine Gael Senator Paul Broadford made the claim in the Seanad (senate) chambers.

The Senator claimed: “An institutionalised pro-Democratic Party bias exists within RTE”

He added: “Having listened to Morning Ireland on RTE, I wonder why we pay to have an American correspondent.

“It would be just as easy for RTE to have a direct link with Democratic national party headquarters.”

His remarks were immediately contradicted by former Presidential election candidate David Norris.

Senator Norris said: “Nonsense. It was balanced. I heard every word of it

Bradford retorted: “It would be appropriate, if those at RTE want to report on the US election, that they do so in a balanced fashion and keep their bias to their private conversations.”