Minister warns RTÉ as licence fee goes up
Minister for the Marine, Communications and Natural Resources Dermot Ahern expressed concern at the lack of substantive progress under the change programme, particularly in relation to reducing staff numbers when he approved the fee increase yesterday.
The minister said it was his intention to inform RTÉ that, in the review of their licence fee application in 2004, he would be emphasising the planned reduction in staffing and arranging for an external review of the impact on all broadcasters of the licence fee paid to RTÉ.
An independent review of RTÉ operations for 2003, conducted on behalf of the minister, concluded that RTÉ had achieved a significant amount of what had been agreed for 2003, particularly in programme output.
It concluded that despite a shortfall in commercial income in television and an expected shortfall in licence fee collection by An Post, RTÉ is expected to come close to achieving its budget targets by the end of this month.
The RTÉ group of unions indicated further attempts to reduce staff numbers would be met with an industrial response. A special meeting of the group of unions has been called for Thursday.
SIPTU branch secretary Jimmy Jordan said: “480 staff lost their jobs from 2000-2002 and a further 169 people left this year.
“RTÉ is delivering on its programming commitments and living within its budget. The attempt by the government to cut staff numbers fails to recognise these realities and will affect the sustainability of the organisation.”
Last night, TV3 welcomed the minister’s call for an independent review of the impact of the licence fee and other State funding to RTÉ and TG4.
“I believe the increase represents only a partial recognition of change achieved by RTÉ and therefore a missed opportunity by the Government,” said the chairman of the RTÉ authority Patrick J Wright.
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