25% hike in budget sought for independent TG4

TG4 should have its annual budget increased by 25% to €50 million once it gains independence, the chief executive of the Irish language television station said yesterday.

Pól Ó Gallchóir told the Oireachtas Communications Committee that an increased budget would be needed to maintain the status and integrity of the station as an independent entity in the future.

At present, TG4 receives about €30 million in direct payments from central Government as well as the equivalent of €10 million in programming content from RTÉ.

However, the Broadcasting Bill contains provisions that will make good on a promise in the Programme for Government that TG4 be made independent from RTÉ. Mr Ó Gallchóir and senior executives from the station also told the Committee that TG4 would also prefer to receive its funding commitment over three years, rather than on a year-to-year basis. The committee, chaired by Fianna Fáil TD Noel O’Flynn, yesterday spent a second day hearing arguments on submissions made by interested parties on the bill which will have far-reaching implications for broadcasting in Ireland.

The bill will change the status of RTÉ into that of a company; make all broadcasters subject to one regulator rather than two, as well as giving independence to the Connemara-based TV station.

It is part of an ambitious e-consultation process pioneered by the committee, that includes submissions by email, web-based discussion forum, plus live broadcasting of its hearings on the world wide web.

Yesterday’s proceedings was dominated by the Irish language and the provisions relating to the controversial Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, a new body that will regulate and have an oversight role on all broadcasters, state and commercial.

RTÉ is opposed to the authority — the national broadcaster says its public service remit distinguishes it from commercial channels like TV3 and Channel 6.